LiBRARY GF CONGRESS. 

Ciiap. ... Copyright No. 



UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



IReminiscences of Xitetarie 
Xonbon* 



IReminiscences 



OF 



Xitetar^ Xonbon 

3from 1770 to 1853. 

Witb interesting anecDotes of ©ubllsbers, 

autbors an& :fi3ooft Buctioneeca 

of tbat iI>erio&, ^c, ^c. 



BY 



/ 



Dr. THOMAS REES, 



IVITI/ EXTENSIVE ADDITIONS BY 

JOHN BRITTON, F. S. A. 



NEW YORK: -Z^^^^^l^^" ^^ 

Francis P. Harper. ^^^'^'^^^ I/O- ^ ^ 
1896. \^^ 








Copyright^ i8g6, 

by 

Francis P, Harper, 



« 



'^^HESE interesting ^'Literary Reminiscences," 
^^ written about 1853, and privately issued, are 
known to but few persons, as but a limited num- 
ber of copies were printed for presentation. The 
volume includes extensive recollections of Au- 
thors, Publishers, and Booksellers from 1779 to 
1853. The authors were personally acquainted 
with all the prominent writers, artists, and makers 
of books, and many curious anecdotes, prices re- 
ceived by authors for their well-known works, edi- 
tions sold, and personal peculiarities of literary 
and business men here given will be new to the 
reader. The work is now for the first time edited, 
with the hope that it may prove as enjoyable read- 
ing to the purchaser as it has been to the 

New York, 1896. BOOK LOVER. 



* 



PREFACE 

By John Britton. 

^K T. PAUL'S Churchyard, Ave-Maria Lane and 
^^ Amen Corner were familiar names to the eye 
and mind in my boy-days ; but I had no more no- 
tion of the features and character of the places than 
of the interior of a man-of-war, or of Robinson 
Crusoe's island. After reading numerous maga- 
zines, and taking in several of the sixpenny num- 
bers pubHshed by Harrison, Cooke, Parsons, etc., 
and thereby ascertaining something about au- 
thors, artists, printers, and booksellers, I became 
curious and anxious to see such gifted person- 
ages, their homes, or haunts; and also where 
the manufacturers of literature resided, what were 
their peculiarities, and who and what sort of be- 
ings they were. I also coveted to see and read 
more books than I could afJord to purchase. 
During the apprenticeship, I do not remember 
to have had an opportunity of satisfying this curi- 
osity, except early in a morning, before shops 
were opened, or on Sundays, when they were all 
closed, and "The Row," with its appendages, as 



PREFACE. 

dull and silent as many village churchyards; but 
after being relieved from my apprentice-bond- 
age, I found my way to the famed book-mart; 
traversed the narrow, dark street, miscalled Row; 
stopped to gaze at every shop window, and even 
stealthily looked in at every opened doorway, to 
see if a Harrison, a Cooke, a Hogg, or even one 
of their Grub-street workmen, or a rich author, 
could be descried. The names of Peter Pindar, 
Thomas Holcroft, Dr. Buchan, Wm. Godwin, 
Dr. A. Rees, Mr. Howard, Mr. Hall, Thos. Paine, 
the Misses Porter, Hannah More, Mrs. Radclifife, 
and many others were familiar to me, and I 
longed to see such super-human beings, as I then 
regarded them. At length I ventured to enter 
some of the houses, and thus obtain a sight of la- 
belled numbers, and volumes of new publications, 
and also the persons and faces of some of their 
proprietors. At that time most of the tradesmen 
attended in their respective shops, and dwelt in 
the upper parts of their houses; now, the heads 
of many of the large establishments visit their 
counting-houses only for a few hours in the day, 
and leave the working part to junior partners, 
clerks, and apprentices. Vast and numerous 
changes have taken place in the publishing and 
bookselling business since I first haunted Pater- 



PRE FA CE, 



noster Row, and book-stalls; and many and im- 
portant improvements have been introduced into 
all the essentials of book-making. Paper, type, 
ink, compositorship, and press-work, have ad- 
vanced from almost the lowest to nearly the high- 
est degree of perfection. The number and quali- 
fications of authors have progressed in nearly an 
equal ratio. This assertion, I beheve, will be fully 
verified, by referring to, and comparing, the books 
and periodicals which were published at the end 
of the last century with those of the year 1852. It 
would not be a difficult task to exemplify this by 
explaining the varieties and dissimilarities be- 
tween the material and mental characteristics of 
literature of the two epochs; but I must limit my- 
self to a brief account of Paternoster Row. 

This far-famed thoroughfare is commonly said 
to derive its name from the stationers, or text- 
writers, who formerly dwelt there, and dealt most- 
ly in religious books, horn-books, and others, 
which were marketable before the Reformation. 
It more probably had its appellation from the ros- 
ary, or pater-noster makers, a more thriving trade 
than bookselling, before Henry the Eighth, of rev- 
olutionary memory, commanded the books of 
Luther to be burnt in the Churchyard. 

Strype, in his edition of Stow's ''Survey of Lon- 



PREFA CE. 



don/' 1720, says, 'This street, before the fire of 
London (1666), was taken up by eminent mercers, 
silkmen, and lacemen; and their shops were so re- 
sorted to by the nobihty and gentry, in their 
coaches, that oft-times the street was so stopped 
up that there was no room for foot passengers.'' 
Soon after that conflagration most of these moved 
to the vicinity of Covent Garden. Some of the 
mercers and silkmen renewed their residences in 
this spot in new houses; but near the east end there 
were ^'stationers and large warehouses for book- 
sellers; well situated for learned and studious 
men's access thither, being more retired and pri- 
vate." St. Paul's Churchyard appears to have 
been the chief mart of the bookselling trade at the 
time of the great fire. Dugdale told Pepys that 
more than £150,000 worth of books were de- 
stroyed on that fatal occasion. Previous to this 
epoch, Little Britain, and Duke Street adjoining, 
seem to have been the most noted site for book- 
sellers. 

However sanguine my young imagination may 
have been, I did not dare to anticipate the pos- 
sibiHty of ever writing or publishing a book; still 
less of being on friendly terms with the many part- 
ners of the largest publishing establishment in the 
v/orld. Yet such has been my lot; and having in- 



FREFACE, 

dulged the habit of continually visiting Paternos- 
ter Row, on the last day of every month for more 
than forty years, it has become identified with 
many and various associations and connexions 
of deep and exciting interest; and I have often 
meditated on writing an account of this literary 
emporium. But I have thought it advisable to 
solicit my old and esteemed friend, Dr. Thomas 
Rees, to indulge me with his opinions and recol- 
lections on this subject. With his usual kindness 
and courtesy he promptly favoured me with the 
following letter, to which I have subjoined a few 
memoranda of my own. 
My Dear Britton, 

You ask me to furnish some reminiscences of 
Paternoster Row, in the earlier period of my ac- 
quaintance with it, towards the conclusion of the 
last, and the commencement of the present, cen- 
tury. Our long and intimate connection, our 
kindred pursuits, and our joint labours on some 
occasions, in the same field of literary research, 
render it difficult for me to meet your wishes with 
a denial ; at the same time I feel very sensibly that 
in recurring to a period so long past, between 
which and the present, half a century has inter- 
vened, important matters relating both to events 
and persons may have escaped my recollec- 
ts 



PREFACE, 

tion, or may be recalled too indistinctly and im- 
perfectly to be of real value for a practical object. 
I will, however, endeavour to revive the image of 
this locality, as it appeared to my view at the 
period alluded to; and to awaken the memory of 
such facts and incidents relating to the character 
and enterprises of its inhabitants, as may be likely 
to afford some interest or amusement to your 
readers. 

DJ^, THOMAS REES, 




part I. 



PATERNOSTER ROW 

AND ITS VICINITY. 



Contents, 



PART I. 



Paternoster Row, Past and Present, and its Booksellers— Harrison's Pub- 
lications— Dr. Busby— Charles Cooke— Alexander Hogg— The Riving- 
tons— Booksellers' Signs— Annual Register— London Magazine— The 
Baldwins— The Robinsons— J. Scott— Alexander Chalmers and his 
Publications— The Longmans~Owen Rees— Thomas Hurst— Chambers' 
and Rees' Cyclopaedia— Annual Review— W. Taylor and R. Southey 
—Authors and their Publishers— Lardner's Cyclopaedia— Third Class 
of Booksellers— Trade Auctioneers— Peter Pindar— Rees' Cyclopaedia 
—P. Courtier— Miss Mitford — W. Pinnock — Ave Maria Lane— Whit- 
taker's— H. G. Bohn— Stationers' Court — Stationers' Hall— St. Paul's 
Churchyard — Francis Newberry — Joseph Johnson — Sir Richard 
Phillips— C. Bowles— J. Mawman — Thomas Hood pages 19 to 87 

PART II. 

Fleet Street and its Immediate Vicinity — McCreery — Nightingale Ryl- 
ance-John Major— Walton and Cotton's Angler— Walpole Anecdotes 
— Rev. T. F. Dibdin — Kearsley — Quarterly Review— John Murray — 
George Cruikshank — W. Hone and his Trials— Wm. Cobbett— E. 
Williams— The John Bull — London Magazine and its Contributors — 
J. Taylor— J. H. Wiffin— Duke of Bedford— T. Bensley— Red Lion 
Passage— John Nichols and his Literary Anecdotes— A. J. Valpy— 
Wm. Pickering— The Bridgewater Treatises— High Holborn— The 
Architectural Antiquities of Great Britain — John Britton's Partners — 
O. Rees— Josiah Taylor pages 89 to 126 

PART III. 

The Strand at the beginning of the Century— Thomas Caddell— The 
Newspaper Press— George Lane— D. Stuart— John Bell— Rudolph 
Ackermann and his publications— F. Shoberl, Author and Editor — 
Annuals — ''Dr. Syntax"— Combe— Rowlandson— John and Leigh Hunt 
— The Literary Gazette — Richardson's Auctions — Geographers — Prince 
Sanders — Lyceum Theatre — Auctioneers — The Sothebys— Evans — 
The Christies' Sale-Rooms— Pall Mall— King Street— Covent Garden 
— Hogarth's Election — P. Luckombe— King and Lochee's Auction 

Rooms ; their book-sales .....pages 127 to 174 

IS 




part I. 



PATERNOSTER ROW 

AND ITS VICINITY. 

Paternoster Row, Past and Present, and its Booksellers — Harrison's 
Publications— Dr. Busby— Charles Cooke— Alexander Hogg— The 
Rivingtons— Booksellers' Signs— Annual Register— London Magazine 
— The Baldwins — The Robinsons — J. Scott — Alexander Chalmers and 
his Publications — The Longmans — Owen Rees — Thomas Hurst — 
Chambers' and Rees' Cyclopaedia— Annual Review — W. Taylor and 
R. Southey — Authors and their Publishers — Lardner's Cyclopaedia — 
Third Class of Booksellers — Trade Auctioneers— Peter Pindar — Rees' 
Cyclopaedia— P. Courtier— Miss Mitford — W. Pinnock— Ave Maria 
Lane— Whittaker's— H. G. Bohn— Stationers' Court— Stationers' Hall 
— St. Paul Churchyard— Francis Newberry— Joseph Johnson — Sir 
Richard Phillips— C. Bowles— J. Mawman— Thomas Hood. 

*fK| EAR the close of the eighteenth century, 
II \ <*Xhe Row/' as it is now popularly called, 
contained two or more printing establishments, 
one of which was conducted by the late "George 
Woodfall," who had succeeded his father, Henry 
Sampson Woodfall, well known as the printer and 
publisher of the 'Tublic Advertiser," in which ap- 



LITER A RY L ONDON, 

peared the far-famed ''Letters of Junius/' The lat- 
ter was still living, and I had the pleasure of see- 
ing him in the enjoyment of a ''green old age/' 
when I first visited London. Those daring epis- 
tles, with the newspaper in which they were pub- 
lished, excited intense curiosity during the course 
of their publication. There were also two houses 
of wholesale stationers; one belonging to the fam- 
ily of Key, and the other to Peter Wynn. The 
University of Oxford had, under the management 
of Mr. Gardner, a depot to supply the London 
trade with their editions of Bibles and Prayer- 
books. But with these, and a few other excep- 
tions, the majority of the houses were tenanted by 
persons who were strictly, in the ordinary sense, 
Booksellers. The varieties of these may be classed 
under three divisions. The first comprehends 
publishers only, whose sale of books was confined 
to their own property. The second might be des- 
ignated book-merchants, who were chiefly whole- 
sale dealers, and carried on an extensive and im- 
portant trade with country booksellers; they were 
also publishers upon a large scale, both of peri- 
odicals, under the designation of magazines, and 
reviews; and likewise works on general literature 
and science, of the larger and more important and 
costly descriptions. The third were chiefly retail 



PATERNOSTER ROW, ETC, 

traders, mostly in old books, but in some instances 
Vv^ere publishers of pamphlets, and books of com- 
paratively small expense. 

In the first class, at the time under considera- 
tion, three persons were conspicuous, viz. : Harri- 
son, Cooke, and Hogg. The first, on many ac- 
counts, is entitled to pre-eminence, as he took the 
lead in a class of publications which deserve great 
praise for valuable improvements in their editorial 
qualities, and particularly in pictorial illustrations. 

It is not easy to pronounce decidedly the exact 
time when books of magnitude were first divided 
into small portions and issued periodically in i 
numbers; but Harrison may be said to be one of 
the first persons who embarked, with much spirit 
and upon an extensive scale, in such a mode of 
publication. His first speculation of the sort was 
**The Novelist's Magazine,'' which embraced sev- 
eral of the larger standard and popular English 
novels then known. They were printed in octavo, 
in double columns, stitched up in small numbers, 
and pubHshed weekly, at sixpence each. The 
most striking feature of this publication, and one 
of its chief attractions, consisted of engraved em- 
bellishments. Harrison had the judgment to se- 
lect artists of acknowledged merit, who afterwards 
rose to distinguished eminence; including Stot- 



LITERARY LONDON, 



hard, R. Corbould, Smirke, and Burney; whilst 
the engravings bear the names of Heath, Sharpe, 
Grignion, Smith, Milton, Neagle, etc. The "Nov- 
elisf s Magazine," commenced by him in 1779, ex- 
tended to twenty-three good-sized volumes. Its 
popularity may be estimated by the fact that, at 
one time 12,000 copies of each number were sold, 
weekly. The success of this work encouraged 
Harrison to publish, on the same plan, with em- 
bellishments by the same eminent artists, 'The 
New Novelist's Magazine,'^ a series of short tales ; 
which was followed by 'The British Classics," 
embracing the Spectator, Tatler, Guardian, Con- 
noisseur, etc., of which a very large edition was 
sold. These publications still maintain their 
credit; and clean copies, with good impressions 
of the plates, are puchased at fair prices. He also 
produced a corresponding work, entitled 'The 
Sacred Classics." 

The same pubUsher embarked in another lit- 
erary speculation, somewhat singular in its plan; 
a "General Geography," upon a large scale, ex- 
tending to forty numbers, in quarto, closely print- 
ed. He engaged to supply its purchasers, without 
additional charge, with a pair of twelve-inch 
globes. Harrison published 'The British Maga- 
zine," in 3 vols., with beautiful engravings of por- 



PATERNOSTER ROW, ETC, 



traits, views, and prints of historical and fancy 
subjects. These included also a large portion of 
Biographical, Historical, and Critical Essays, with 
Poetry. His next publication was **The Musical 
Magazine,^' which, in an octavo size, gave a selec- 
^ tion of the works of the most eminent and popu- 

lar composers, arranged for the piano-forte. The 
purchaser of the entire work was entitled to re- 
ceive a square piano-forte. Dr. Busby, at that 
time a popular musical professor, was employed as 
editor, and the instruments were examined and 
attested by him. This gentleman was much em- 
ployed by Sir Richard Phillips, in writing for the 
^'Monthly Magazine," etc., and later in life made 
himself very conspicuous, and amenable to severe 
public criticism, by translating "Lucretius," and 
''giving living recitations of the translation, with 
tea and bread and butter," at his house in Queen 
Anne Street, to select parties of friends, who were 
invited to endure the one and relish the other. I 
was among the number, and must own that the 
display of poetry, oratory, and coxcombry was 
lamentably ludicrous. Never did I behold a 
young man more vain, impudent, and heartless, 
than the juvenile Busby, and rarely, perhaps, has 
the diploma of ''Mus. Doc.^' appeared more ridicu- 
lous and degraded than by the conduct and ap- 



LITERARY LONDON, 

pearances of the musical professor with his finical 
son. These gentlemen made a finishing exhibi- 
tion of themselves on the re-opening of the famed 
Drury Lane Theatre, after its memorable rebuild- 
ing. It is very generally known that an Address 
was sought for amongst the authors of the age, 
and that in the mass presented was one from Lord 
Byron, accepted, and another from Dr. Busby re- 
jected. The mortified and vain Doctor fancied 
that he could bring the committee to shame, if not 
repentance, by publishing his own poetry and 
prose, in a truly novel manner. Accordingly, he 
and his accomplished son were seen in the stage 
box of the theatre soon after its opening. At the 
end of the play the young gentleman leaped upon 
the stage, with his father's rejected address in one 
hand, and an opera hat in the other, and repeated 
the following lines: 

" When energizing objects men pursue, 
What are the miracles they cannot do?" 

Here, however, the juvenile spouter was stopped 
by Mr. Raymond, the stage manager, and a con- 
stable, who handed the young gentleman off the 
stage. The ^'Rejected Addresses," by James and 
Horace Smith, contain a good burlesque imitation 
of the Busby address. 

24 



PATERNOSTER ROW, ETC, 

Amongst the periodicals of Harrison was 'The 
Wit's Magazine/^ edited by Thos. Holcroft, and 
containing a variety of amusing articles both in 
prose and verse, written by the editor, by Mr. Har- 
rison, and by other authors of talent. It was em- 
bellished with large prints, folded. His *'Bio- 
graphical Magazine,'" an 8vo. volume, contains 
small engraved portraits, with short notices of 
each subject, well executed. 

Harrison issued two periodicals of smaller size, 
the "Pocket Magazine'' and the ''Lady's Pocket 
Magazine," which were pubHshed monthly, and 
embellished with portraits and a series of small 
engraved views of places, from drawings by the 
late J. M, W. Turner, R.A., who eventually be- 
came the most eminent landscape painter in the 
world. These works contained writings of sev- 
eral young authors, some of whom afterwards at- 
tained eminence; amongst them were my es- 
teemed friends, the Misses Porter, and their 
brother, the poet, artist, and traveler. A frequent 
writer in these magazines was R. A. Davenport, 
who sometimes officiated as editor. Both Charles 
and Thomas Dibdin contributed many well-writ- 
ten and amusing papers; as did also Peter Cour- 
tier. 

Contemporary with, and a near neighbour to 
25 



LITERARY LONDON, 

Harrison, was John Cooke, who for many years 
carried on a large and successful business as pub- 
lisher of periodical works. He was probably one 
of the earliest of the Paternoster Row booksellers 
who applied himself to this branch of trade, upon 
a large scale. The subjects and form of his books 
and their illustrations were, however, very dififer- 
ent from those of Harrison. Cooke confined him- 
self, for some time, to religious publications, the 
principal and most popular of which was South- 
well's ''Commentary of the Bible;" it had a large 
sale, and produced a profit of many thousand 
pounds. After the appearance, in numbers, of 
Chambers' ''Cyclopaedia,'' under the editorial care 
of Dr. Abraham Rees, Cooke published an imita- 
tion, with the name of Hall, as editor, of some 
merit, but inferior to its predecessor. All Cooke's 
publications were in foHo, divided into small por- 
tions, and issued weekly, at sixpence each num- 
ber; they were "adorned with cuts," which were 
of the old school, both as to drawings and engrav- 
ings. 

At an advanced age Mr. Cooke retired to the 
country, with a handsome fortune, and died, in 
1810, at the age of 79. His son, Charles, con- 
tinued for some time his father's principal publica- 
tions; but he soon commenced a new course, 

26 



PATERNOSTER ROW, ETC. 

which was attended with great success. The 
copyright of Hume's ''History of England," be- 
longing to Cadell and Longman, having expired, 
Cooke availed himself of the circumstance to pub- 
lish an edition, with Smollett's Continuation, in 
weekly numbers, at sixpence each. It was neatly 
printed, and embellished with portraits and vig- 
nettes tolerably executed. Contemporaneously 
with this, he also published a series of the older 
popular English Novels, with attractive embel- 
lishments. The original drawings and paintings, 
from which the prints were taken, were exhibited 
in a picture gallery, at the rear of his shop. At a 
later time Cooke published an edition of Bell's 
''British Theatre,'' under the editorship of Richard 
Cumberland. Besides inheriting a handsome for- 
tune from his father, he acquired a considerable 
increase by his own speculations. He built a new 
house in Epping Forest, where he lived a short 
time, and died, in the prime of life, after a painful 
operation performed by Sir Astley Cooper. Al- 
though my (Britton) finances would not allow me 
to purchase the whole of Harrison's and Cooke's 
publications, I bought some of them, at what is 
technically called "trade price," and must own that 
they not only afforded me much amusement and 
instruction, on repeated perusal and examination, 



LITERARY LONDON. 

but, I believe, created that love of literature and 
art which progressively rose to a confirmed pas- 
sion. The periodicals, by the publishers above no- 
ticed, were sought for and hailed with intense 
curiosity as they made their appearance; and I 
may safely aver that the embellished works, which 
I have since produced, sprang from the seeds 
which the Cookes and Harrisons sowed, at the 
end of the last century. The very beautiful and 
effective drawings and engravings by Stothard 
and Heath were eminently calculated to fascinate 
the young eye, as they gratified also that of the 
learned professor of art. Harrison's ''British Mag- 
azine," of which three volumes were published in 
1782, 3 and 4, contained several very highly-fin- 
ished plates by Heath, from Stothard's designs. 
A short time before his decease I spent a day with 
Charles Cooke, at his rural villa, which had at- 
tained the cognomen of Cooke's Folly. Though 
expensively fitted up and furnished, it was wholly 
devoid of the elegancies of high life, and 'exhib- 
ited more ostentatious finery and show than clas- 
sical or simple beauty. Its walls were, however, 
amply covered with paintings, drawings, and 
prints. 

Alexander Hogg, who lived next door to 
Cooke, formed his literary schemes on the model 

28 



PATERNOSTER ROW, ETC, 

of his neighbour. His publications were chiefly 
reHgious, and issued in weekly sixpenny num- 
bers. The principal were, a ''Bible with Anno- 
tations/' by the Rev. Timothy Priestly, the brother 
of the eminent philosopher of that name. Like 
Cooke, Hogg brought out an ''Encyclopaedia,'' 
with the name of Howard, as editor. All his pub- 
lications Vv^ere in folio; with a profusion of most 
wretched prints. Miserable as these works were, 
both as to literary and artistic execution, their 
proprietor contrived to derive from them a hand- 
some fortune. Amongst the books published by 
Hogg, v/as a large folio volume, called "Antiqui- 
ties of England and Wales," with the name of 
Henry Boswell, as author, or editor. It has a 
great number of prints wofully executed, both as 
to drawing and engraving, and copied from any 
and every source that was accessible. For pirat- 
ing one or more from Grose's "Antiquities,'' the 
publisher was sued, and sentenced to pay dam- 
ages, with costs. The letter-press was quite in 
harmony with the prints, and equally valueless, 
being taken from any book or books that could 
be obtained, without acknowledgment- The ed- 
itor is said to have been a servant of Hogg's, who 
was paid by the week for his services, in cutting 
up books for the printer, and reading the proofs. 



LITERARY LONDON, 

That there was not much congeniality of senti- 
ment, or friendly feeling between Harrison and 
Hogg, may be inferred by an epigram which the 
former wrote for and inserted in the ''Lady's 
Pocket Magazine," July, 1795. 

ON A STUPID BOOKSELLER. 

By Peter Pindar Esq. [James Harrison.) 

Thou Beast! amid the sons of Wisdom plac'd, 
Who, times of old, as well as modern, grac'd, 
Couldst thou not catch a portion of their fire? 
Rolls not thine eye upon their works each day, 
And canst thou, from them, nothing bear away. 
To lift thy HOG-like soul above the mire? 

At the period under consideration, Hogg's pub- 
lishing business was conducted by a young man, 
familiarly known in the trade by the name of 
'Thomas,'^ who was much liked by the book- 
sellers' collectors. He served his master many 
years, and was with him when the latter died. He 
declined to serve in the same capacity under the 
son, who had previously been a stranger to the 
business ; and therefore, after some demur, was ad- 
mitted by the latter into partnership. The union 
did not last long. Hogg retired, and the business 
devolved on 'Thomas," who introduced important 



PATERNOSTER ROW, ETC, 

changes into it, by which he raised the character 
of the house and improved his own fortune. He 
rose gradually in the esteem of his neighbours, 
and the shopman of Mr. Hogg is now deservedly 
respected as Mr. Alderman Thomas Kelly. 

My next class comprises the greater wholesale 
booksellers and publishers, inhabitants of the 
Row. The first of these, at the sign of the ''Bible 
and Crown,'' were the Rivingtons. Almost all 
the booksellers' houses of London, as well as 
those of other trades, were formerly contra-dis- 
tinguished from each other by Signs, eitjier over 
the doors, or projecting into the streets. The lat- 
ter becoming a nuisance were prohibited by Act 
of Parliament; but the former are still continued, 
in many places. The following are some of those 
Signs: Bible and Ball; Anchor; Black Swan; 
Black Boy; Golden Anchor; Cicero's Head; 
Shakspere's Head; Red Lion; Ship and Black 
Swan; Raven; Sun; Bible and Crown; the Dun- 
ciad ; and the Star. 

The Rivingtons constitute an old and highly- 
respectable firm, with premises extending from 
the front to St. Paul's Churchyard. The earliest 
of this family whom I have been able to trace 
was Charles, whose name appears in the begin- 
ning of the eighteenth century. It is certain he 

31 



LITERARY LONDON, 

carried on business here as early as 1710. In 
1730 his name is joined with that of Thomas 
Longman and some others, as pubHshers of Thu- 
anus's great historical work. He died in 1742, 
and was succeeded by his son, John. This family 
has always been distinguished for its zealous at- 
tachment to the Church of England, and has con- 
sequently enjoyed an intimate connexion with the 
established clergy. It is related of John Riving- 
ton, that he was a very assiduous attendant on the 
services in St. PauFs Church, and was seldom 
absent from the early morning prayers, at six or 
seven o'clock. If surprised by the bell before he 
had quitted his bed, he has been known to put on 
his clothes hastily, and finish dressing in the 
church, during the service. He died in 1792, at 
the age of 73, and was succeeded by his two sons, 
Francis and Charles, who constituted the firm 
when I first became acquainted with the Metropo- 
lis. The first died in 1822, and the second some 
time in 1831. The Rivingtons engaged largely in 
the publishing trade, but chiefly in books relating 
to the EstabHshed Church. In 1791, during the 
political and reHgious excitement produced by 
the French Revolution, they commenced the 
''British Critic,'' a monthly review of literature, 
professedly intended to uphold the tenets of the 

32 . 



PATERNOSTER ROW, ETC. 

Established Church, and the Tory poHtics of the 
ruHng government. The principal and most in- 
fluential periodical of this class was the ''Monthly 
Review/^ which was ably conducted by Dr. Grif- 
fiths, who had the assistance of several eminent 
writers. The first number was published in May, 
1749, when he carried on the trade of a book- 
seller at the ''Dunciad," in Ludgate Street. In 
1754 he removed to a new shop in Paternoster 
Row, afterwards occupied by H. D. Symonds, and 
in 1759 to the Strand, where he continued his orig- 
inal sign of the Dunciad. On relinquishing busi- 
ness in 1764, he committed the publication of the 
Review to Mr. Becket. Dr. Griffiths died at Turn- 
ham Green, in 1803. After his death the Review 
was conducted by his son, Colonel Griffiths. At 
his decease the copyright was sold, but the pub- 
lication was not long continued. At the time of 
which I am writing, there were two other re- 
views, published monthly — the "Critical" and 
''Analytical'' — both of which, as well as the 
"Monthly,'^ were the property of the liberal dis- 
senters. Under these circumstances it was thought 
desirable to bring out another Review, which 
should counteract and neutralize their principles 
as much as possible; and, at the same time, de- 
velop and sustain the religious and political opin- 

33 



LITERARY LONDON, 

ions of the party who were attached to the Es- 
tablished Church. Hence originated the ''British 
Critic/' as an antagonistic pubhcation. It was 
projected and conducted by two learned and able 
clergymen, the Rev. Richard Nares, and the Rev. 
Wm. Beloe, the translator of Herodotus, who were 
aided and supported in the undertaking by Dr. 
Parr and other eminent writers. It may well be 
supposed the articles contributed by such men 
were distinguished by erudition and general lit- 
erary merits; and yet the Review was never, I 
believe, a popular or profitable work. Of late years 
it has been changed from a monthly to a quar- 
terly publication. In association with Mr. Nares, 
was my old and much-respected friend, the Rev. 
John Whitaker, author of a Life of Mary, Queen 
of Scots, and of many other learned and "party- 
coloured'' works. He was very severe in his crit- 
icisms on those authors whose religious and polit- 
ical opinions differed from his own prejudices. 

Another periodical, published by the Riving- 
tons, was the Annual Register, originally brought 
out by Dodsley, with the literary aid of Edmund 
Burke. The Rivingtons purchased the copyright, 
and continued the work on its original Tory prin- 
ciples. It was for some years edited by Mr. R. A. 
Davenport. The principal books of the orna- 

34 



PATERNOSTER ROW, ETC. 

mental class published by the Rivingtons were 
those written by the late Mr. Donovan, on several 
subjects of natural history. He was an excellent 
naturalist, and an accurate and skillful draughts- 
man. 

On the south side of the Row, near the prem- 
ises described, was located Robert Baldwin, at the 
time of which I am writing. He was greatly es- 
teemed as an upright and honourable tradesman. 
For many years he published the "London Maga- 
zine,'' which commenced almost as early as the 
"Gentleman's,'' the first number bearing the date 
of 1732. This was for many years a very pop- 
ular periodical. Mr. Baldwin died in 1810. His 
nephew and successor commenced a new maga- 
zine in 1820, with the same title, under the avowed 
editorship of John Scott, a young author of excel- 
lent character and considerable literary talents. 
The work was proceeding very satisfactorily, and 
rising into popularity, when the editor was un- 
happily involved in a quarrel, which ended in a 
duel. The meeting was conducted by young men 
wholly unaccustomed to such affairs of "honour," 
and the fatal result of the rashness and inexperi- 
ence of his second was the cause of the death of 
Mr. Scott. In traversing Lincolnshire for the 
Beauties of England, in the year 1810, I met Mr. 

35 



LITERARY LONDON, 



Scott, at Stamford, where he was engaged by Mr. 
Drakard, to edit a new weekly newspaper, which 
the latter had started. The high tone of politics 
and powerful writing of Mr. Scott soon attracted 
popularity, and the writer was invited to contrib- 
ute articles to some of the London periodicals. 
These also excited both the admiration and envy 
of many readers and authors. A controversy arose 
in the London Magazine and in Blackwood's Ed- 
inburgh, which became sarcastic, vindictive, and 
personal, and ended as above stated, in a manner 
which created a mingled sensation of sorrow and 
horror in many minds. The magazines and news- 
papers of the time were much occupied, after- 
wards, with a succession of papers on the cere- 
monies, folly, and unhallowed practices of duel- 
ling. At the time of penning this note (June, 
1852) ''an affair of honour,'' as a duel is misnamed, 
has occurred between two "honourable gentle- 
men" of the House of Commons, which has for- 
tunately turned the event into ridicule, and will be 
likely to produce good moral effects. 

Charles Baldwin, brother of Robert, had an ex- 
tensive printing business in Bridge Street, Black- 
friars, and realized much profit by printing the 
"St. James's Chronicle," a newspaper which at one 
time attained great popularity. It is still conduct- 

36 



PATERNOSTER ROW, ETC, 

ed by his son, Charles, who is also its printer, and 
it is said he is joint proprietor of the ^'Morning 
Herald,'' and the "Standard.'' He is a gentleman 
of the highest respectability, and of extensive 
knowledge. 

The Robinsons, at the end of the eighteenth 
and beginning of the nineteenth centuries, when 
I first became acquainted with the firm, carried on 
the largest business of any house in London, as 
general publishers, and also as wholesale and re- 
tail booksellers. George, the head and founder 
of the house, had been an assistant to John Riv- 
ington, and about 1763 embarked in business in 
partnership with John Robinson, at whose death, 
in 1776, he was left alone in the concern. His 
rising reputation for personal integrity and steady 
habits of business recommended him to the friend- 
ly notice of Thomas Longman, the second pub- 
lisher of that name, who, well knowing the diffi- 
culties which young tradesmen had to encounter 
with a deficient capital, voluntarily offered to give 
him any credit he might require for books of his 
publication. By unremitting attention, and the 
judicious application of strong natural talents, 
his business steadily and rapidly increased, so that 
by the year 1780 his wholesale trade had become 
the largest in London. About that time, the ne- 

37 



LITERARY LONDON, 

cessity for assistants in the management of the 
concern led him to take into partnership his son, 
George, also the two brothers, John and James, 
the firm being then designated that of G., G., J. 
and J. Robinson. They published largely books 
of considerable size and of great value. The head 
of the firm was considered to have an excellent 
judgment in the difficult and often critical under- 
taking of the superintendence and management of 
the literary concerns of a publishing establish- 
ment. He greatly respected meritorious authors, 
and acted with singular liberality in his pecuniary 
dealings with them. Besides the works of which 
they were the sole proprietors, they were engaged 
jointly with several of the principal houses in 
numerous w^orks of great extent, such as Kippis's 
'^Biographia Britannica." 

In 1780 they commenced the ''Annual Regis- 
ter," following the plan of Dodsley's, but advocat- 
ing a different system of politics. They engaged 
in the preparation and conducting of this work 
gentlemen of high character ana established lit- 
erary reputation, by which it soon acquired great 
popularity. The current sale of each volume, for 
many years, exceeded 7000 copies. They were 
also the publishers of the ''Town and Country 
Magazine," of which there were sold about 14,000 

38 



PATERNOSTER ROW, ETC, 

copies, monthly; and of the ''Ladies' Magazine/' 
a publication for a long period of equal popularity 
and emolument. For many years the confidential 
friend and literary adviser of the house was the 
late Alexander Chalmers, who ' possessed many 
qualifications for that delicate and difficult office. 
He is said to have contributed largely to their sev- 
eral periodicals, and had a prominent share in the 
editorial direction of the ''Biographical Diction- 
ary," which extended to 32 volumes 8vo., and was 
in progress of publication from 1812 to 1817. 
Having often had occasion to refer to this work, 
in the expectation of finding full and accurate in- 
formation, with discriminating comments on the 
writings and merits of the authors, whose me- 
moirs it professes to narrate, I have too often been 
disappointed and mortified. A good Biographia 
Britannica is a literary desideratum. I cannot 
conscientiously praise the execution of this Dic- 
tionary, yet I feel sincere respect for the man, and 
admiration of manv of his literary works. He 
was a truly estimable professional literary char- 
acter, and it is said that "no man conducted so 
many works for the booksellers of London; and 
his attention to accuracy of collation; his depth 
and research as to facts, and his discrimination as 
to the character of the authors under his review, 



LITERARY LONDON, 

cannot be too highly praised.'^ Such is the remark 
of Mr. Timperley, in his ''Dictionary of Printing 
and Printers," 1839. Besides writing for several 
periodical works, Mr. Chalmers edited "The Brit- 
ish Essayists,'^ in 48 vols. i8mo. 1803; an edition of 
Steevens's Shakspeare, with Life and Notes, 9 
vols. 8vo. 1803 — 1805; A History of the Colleges, 
&c., of Oxford, 2 vols. 8vo. 1810; an edition of 
*The English Poets, from Chaucer to Cowper," 
21 vols, royal i8mo. 1810. He was also author 
of an original work, in 3 vols, second edition, 181 5, 
which had previously appeared in the Gentleman's 
Magazine, intituled 'The Projector,'' a periodical 
paper, originally published between January 1802 
and November 1809. Of this work Mr. Timperley 
fairly writes that "it successfully seized on the fol- 
lies and vices of the day; and has displayed in their 
exposure a large fund of wit, humour, and delicate 
irony." Mr. Chalmers was a pleasant, convivial 
companion, which, with his conversational talents, 
and intimacy with the principal London publish- 
ers, secured him a seat at the Hall Dinners of the 
Stationers' Company at all their public meetings. 
I met Mr. Chalmers frequently, and ever found 
him cheerful, communicative, and friendly. He 
died Dec. 10, 1834, aged 75. 

Though George Robinson had succeeded in ere- 



PATERNOSTER ROW, ETC, 

ating and sustaining the largest bookselling and 
publishing trade of his time, he failed to provide 
for his successors that mental organization and 
machinery which were indispensable for continu- 
ing it: conscious that the concern was of his own 
creating, he seems to have thought that he could 
not keep the management too exclusively to him- 
self. His son and his brothers he admitted, in- 
deed, into partnership, and assigned to each his 
place and duties; but they were treated by him 
rather as agents than principals. He was king and 
autocrat; and whilst he conceded to them, nom- 
inally, the position of equals, in rank, he carefully 
retained the supreme and ruling power. The con- 
sequence became painfully manifest, immediately 
after his death, in 1801. The surviving partners 
found themselves engaged in a large and intricate 
lousiness, of which neither of them knew much be- 
yond the particular department to which his atten- 
tion had been almost exclusively devoted. Igno- 
rant of the pecuniary position of the house, of the 
money capital at their disposal for sustaining it, 
and equally so of the means and method of it^ 
proper application, they saw no hope of relief but 
by a friendly commission of bankruptcy. The af- 
fairs were wound up, the property sold, and, to 
their surprise, it was found that there was enough 



LITERARY LONDON. 

to satisfy every creditor, in full, with a surplus of 
£20,000. The surviving partners arose from this 
painful investigation with their personal credit and 
honour untarnished, but their commercial im- 
portance had departed. 

It remains that I now give some account of the 
Longmans — the first of whom w^as Thomas, at the 
sign of ''the Ship and Black Swan," whose name 
appeared to books in 1726, joined with Thomas 
and John Osborne. He appears to have realized 
a good fortune, and, dying in 1755, left the prop- 
erty to his widow. She, with the nephew of her 
first husband, Thomas Longman, conducted the 
business for some time. They possessed valuable 
copyrights, in Greek and Latin school-books of 
the higher class, which, at that time, had a large 
sale. This nephew was esteemed a tradesman of 
correct judgment, of great integrity in his deal- 
ings, and of kindly disposition. I had opportuni- 
ties of seeing him occasionally towards the close of 
his life. He retired from business about 1793, re- 
taining only so much of it as was connected with 
the sale of the stock belonging to his copyrights, 
and died at his house at Hampstead in 1797, at the 
age of 60, greatly esteemed by all who knew him. 
His eldest son, Thomas Norton Longman, suc- 
ceeded to the father's business as wholesale and 

42 



PATERNOSTER ROW, ETC. 

retail bookseller and publisher, on the same plan 
and scale, his principal assistant being Christopher 
Brown, the father of my excellent friend, Thomas 
Brown, who served his apprenticeship to Mr. 
Longman, and now deservedly occupies the hon- 
ourable post of a principal partner in the house. 
In 1797, my eldest brother, Owen Rees, who had 
been thoroughly trained to business in one of the 
principal bookselling houses in Bristol, joined Mr. 
Longman, when the firm was briefly designated, 
''Longman & Rees/' Finding his health declining, 
in 1837, he determined to close his connexion with 
the house, and arrangements were made with this 
view. Before they were concluded, he went to 
Wales for the removal of what was deemed a tem- 
porary indisposition, and on the 5th of September, 
died, in the 67th year of his age, upon the estate 
(then his own property) on which he had been 
born, and where he had hoped to pass some years 
in tranquil retirement, after the anxieties and fa- 
tigues of a long life of arduous and unremitting 
application to business. 

Of this once-amiable and estimable person, I 
(Britton) avail myself of the present opportunity 
to put on record an expression of my own warm 
feelings of attachment and sincere friendship. In- 
timately acquainted with him for nearly forty 

43 



LITERARY LONDON. 

years, and often associated in the counting-house, 
on committees, at the social board, and in other 
pursuits, I knew him well, and not only respected 
him for generosity of conduct and sentiment, but 
for that friendly and kindly disposition he mani- 
fested on all occasions. Never was there a man 
who more fully and truly acted the character of 
''Harmony" on the great stage of the world, than 
Owen Rees. In an extensive intercourse with 
authors and artists, with booksellers and other 
tradesmen, indeed, with all classes of society, he 
was bland, courteous, candid, and sincere. In the 
numerous meetings of the partners in the ''Beauties 
of England,'^ when I was but little known to or by 
Mr. Rees, and when there were often angry con- 
tentions between the booksellers and the authors, 
I always found him eager and anxious to recon- 
cile differences, to sooth irritated feelings, and en- 
deavour to urge the authors to industry and perse- 
verance, and his colleagues to forbearance and 
generosity. Such conduct and such manners could 
not fail to create a friendly feeling in my heart, 
and, from a more intimate connexion with him 
afterwards, in consequence of the firm having a 
share in the "Beauties of Wiltshire," the "Architec- 
tural," and the "Cathedral Antiquities," and in 
othersof my literary works, I invariably found a sin- 



PATERNOSTER ROW, ETC, 

cere friend in Mr. Rees. Many happy hours have I 
spent in his company, in Paternoster Row and at 
my own humble home, and never saw him with a 
frown on his benignant countenance, nor heard a 
harsh, ungenerous sentiment from his lips — I 
loved him, whilst living, and have often lamented 
his loss, since death has parted us. 

In 1804, Thomas Hurst and Cosmo Orme were 
added to the firm. The story of Thomas Hurst 
may afford a lesson and warning to speculators, 
and also to generous-hearted persons, who are 
susceptible of being imposed on by the seductions 
of the cunning and crafty. I knew him some years 
before he joined the firm of Longman and Co., 
and found him then, as I did in his days of pros- 
perity, kind, friendly, and generous. At first he 
conducted a business nearly opposite Longman's, 
and supplied several country booksellers with the 
London publications. By diligence, devotion to 
his customers, and obliging manners, he soon aug- 
mented his property and profits, and was doing 
well when he joined the new firm. In this he man- 
aged the country department, and was highly es- 
teemd by all who knew him. He was living in an 
elegant, but unostentatious style, with a carriage 
and good estabhshment, on the brow of High- 
gate Hill, where I have spent many joyful hours in 

45 



LITERARY LONDON. 

the company of cordial friends. In an evil mo- 
ment he became connected with an artful and un- 
principled man, who was engaged in a good book- 
selling business in Yorkshire, and who afterwards 
embarked in a large and daring undertaking in 
London. John, the elder brother of Thomas 
Hurst, who was a man of retiring disposition, of 
unassuming manners, and of punctilious honesty 
of principle, was partner with the person alluded 
to, but wholly unfitted for the hazardous game in 
which he became involved. He was quiescent, 
whilst his partner was artful and ostentatious. 
Their capital was soon sunk, and credit was then 
obtained to a vast extent; for the partner, not sat- 
isfied with a large business in books and prints, 
embarked in building houses, and speculated in 
hops. The elder Mr. Hurst saw and felt the im- 
minent danger in which he was embarked, and 
prevailed on his brother to sign accommodation 
bills to a great amount. He had not courage to 
refuse, but drew in the name of the firm, of the 
Row, as he had been accustomed to do in the reg- 
ular routine of business. Some of these bills were 
duly paid, but they became so numerous and to 
such large amounts, that Longman and Co. re- 
quired an explanation, dissolved the partnership, 

and bound Mr. T. Hurst to be personally respon- 

46 



PATERNOSTER ROW, ETC, 

sible for all further outstanding bills. They also 
paid to their retiring partner more than forty thou- 
sand pounds, his valued share in the house. But 
even this sum was not enough to meet all the lia- 
bilities: whence he became a ruined man. He 
made two or three efforts to regain credit and busi- 
ness; but these were not to be obtained. The el- 
der brother, John, died broken-heat*ted ; and 
Thomas was reduced to the mortifying state of 
seeking an asylum for old age, as an inmate to, 
and dependant on the charity of t'he Charter 
House, in which he died in the year 1850. In con- 
sequence of some subsequent changes occasioned 
by the death of my brother, and later by that of 
T. N. Longman, the retirement of Hurst and 
Orme, and the introduction of other persons, to 
take their places, the firm has assumed its present 
form of "Longman, Brown, Green, and Long- 
mans." After the introduction of these new part- 
ners, of excellent business habits, various new 
schemes for the enlargement and extension of the 
trade were carried into execution. Hence, within a 
short period, the house rose to an importance and 
reputation which had never before been attained 
by any similar establishment in the world. To the 
retail branch they devoted a distinct department, 
to which was joined a choice and extensive library 



LITERARY LONDON, 

of old books. This was a novelty in a publishing 
house, and I believe that it originated in obtaining 
a large collection of scarce and curious books, on 
old Poetry and the Drama, which the partners had 
purchased, for a very large sum, from Thomas 
Hill. The event was at a time when Bibliomania 
was raging in London, — when certain noblemen 
and gentlemen were in the habit of attending sales, 
and competing for large and tall-paper books, and 
for rare copies, many of which nad become so 
from their worthlesseness. A remarkable Cata- 
logue, called ''Bibliotheca Anglo-Poetica," of the 

Hill library, was prepared in 1 8 1 6 by Griffiths, a 

clerk in Longman's house, and secured much 
praise from the book-buyers, and the learned in 
black-letter lore, for the knowledge and tact it 
manifested. Thence forward, for many years, the 
house continued to purchase largely at sales, and 
from individuals, either libraries or collections of 
books, and occasionally issued catalogues. After 
the death of Mr. Griffiths, his place was supplied 
by Mr. Reader; but within the last few years the 
whole collection was sold by public auction. I 
am not a little surprised and mortified to look over 
the pages, and meagre Index, of the Rev. Dr. Dib- 
din's "Reminiscences,^' in vain, for some notice 

of T. Hill, and Mr. Griffith's "Bibliotheca." The 

48 



PATERNOSTER ROW, ETC, 

general wholesale trade, for the supply of country 
booksellers in the British Isles, and for the foreign 
markets, surpassed that of all preceding establish- 
ments ; whilst the publishing business, if it cannot 
be said to have gone beyond that of any other 
British house, was unquestionably inferior to none. 
In adverting to the publications of this firm, it 
is curious to observe one name of some eminence 
in literature and science, which has been in asso- 
ciation with Longman and Co. for more than 120 
years. This is Ephraim Chambers, the author, or 
editor, of the original ^'Cyclopaedia," which work 
was first published by subscription in 1728, in two 
volumes, folio. It soon acquired great popularity, 
and attained a second edition in 1738. The author, 
finding his health impaired by literary labours, 
went to France, in hopes of recruiting his mental 
and bodily strength, and at the same time collect- 
ing materials for his projected book. I have in 
my possession some interesting letters written by 
him during this tour, addressed to his publisher. 
The ''Cyclopaedia'^ was reprinted under his super- 
intendence in 1739, ^nd was his last literary effort. 
His constitution gave way, and he died in May, 
1740. The work was again reprinted in 1741, and 
also in 1746, when it was thought desirable to add 
a Supplement, to embrace the more modern dis- 

49 



LITERARY LONDON. 

coveries in science and in the arts. This Supple- 
ment, prepared by Dr. Hill, and Mr. G. L. Scott, 
was pubHshed in 1753, in two folio volumes. After 
an interval of some years, the work still maintain- 
ing a high reputation, the proprietors projected a 
new edition, incorporating the Supplement, to- 
gether with new matter of importance. Some diffi- 
culty was experienced in finding a suitable editor. 
At last Dr. Abraham Rees was chosen, who was 
then mathematical tutor at a dissenting college in 
London, and had acquired considerable reputation 
for his scientific knowledge and literary talents. 
The first number, in foHo, was published in 1778, 
and the work was continued weekly till completed, 
in 418 numbers, forming four large volumes, with 
numerous prints. The current sale for many years 
amounted to 5000 numbers weekly, and there was 
a large demand for the work, in this form, for a 
long time after its completion. At length it was 
found expedient to publish another edition, or 
rather an entirely new work, under the same title, 
and under the same learned and laborious editor, 
who called to his aid a number of writers holding 
high rank in the several important departments of 
science. The work received the designation of the 
''New Cyclopaedia." It was published periodically, 
in parts, or half volumes, and appeared regularly 

50 



PATERNOSTER ROW, ETC. 

till completed in 40 volumes. The publication, 
which commenced in 1802, occupied about sixteen 
years; but the labour of the indefatigable editor, 
including the period of preparation, extended over 
twenty years, measured, as he said, not by frag- 
ments of time, but by whole days, of twelve and 
fourteen hours each. In the general preface, the 
editor has given the names of his principal coad- 
jutors, and I find your name recorded in the list, 
in connexion with the subjects of antiquities, 
topography, &c., upon which you furnished many 
valuable articles. 

I had the gratification of introducing the fol- 
lowing gentlemen to the firm, to write articles on 
subjects connected with their professional studies: 
E. W. Brayley, who wrote on Enamelling; T. Phil- 
lips, R.A., on Painting; and Sharon Turner, on 
English History. The last gentleman became in- 
timate with the partners, was employed by them 
for many years afterwards, and attained great pop- 
ularity and handsome remuneration for his histor- 
ical works, through the medium of such publishers. 

Reminiscences respecting this once important 
work, and its phalanx of contributors, in art, lit- 
erature, and science — of their frequent intercourse 
at the Soirees which the publishers estabhshed at 
their great book manufactory and mart. No. 39, 



LITERARY LONDON, 

&c., Paternoster Row — are impressed on my mem- 
ory and feelings with intense pleasure, mixed with 
some painful emotions of having for ever lost the 
converse and excitement which emanated from the 
friendly and intellectual collision, then and there 
produced. The respectable firm of Longman and 
Co. not only invited and assembled nearly all the 
contributors to the ''Cyclopaedia,'^ periodically for 
several successive winters, but were in the habit of 
calling many of them together around the social 
and splendid dining table, where the acknowl- 
edged professors of literature and art met, on equal 
and friendly terms, eminent amateurs of both. 
Such unions were novelties in England, and I be- 
lieve, in Europe; and were eminently calculated to 
foster good feelings, and promote harmony and in- 
timacy between persons in different gradations of 
trade, literature, art, and science. Hence friend- 
ships were made; new discoveries were pro- 
claimed; opinions, public measure^, and the con- 
duct of public men, canvassed ; courtesies and civ- 
ilities were exchanged between persons whose 
studies and pursuits were often in rivalry, and 
human amenities were cultivated. In such com- 
pany, and under such influences, I own that I not 
only felt elated and proud, but substantially bene- 
fited, both mentally and morally. The amiable 



PATERNOSTER ROW, ETC, 

and benignant editor of the ''Cyclopaedia/' who 
often formed one of these parties, seemed, to my 
fancy, something above humanity : for never was 
there a man more deservedly beloved and respect- 
ed than the Rev. Dr. Abraham Rees. 

Besides giving to the editor the assistance and 
co-operation of eminent writers in literature and 
science, the proprietors spared no expense to pro- 
vide artists of the first talents for its illustrations. 
Among those who^ furnished drawings, were How- 
ard, Landseer, Donovan, Russell, Opie, Ottley, 
Phillips, and Farey; while among the engravers, 
were Milton, Lowry, and Scott. The ''New Cyclo- 
psedia'^ was in all respects a great and important 
undertaking. It embodied writings by some of the 
most distinguished scientific men of the age, on 
subjects of primary consequence, and it involved 
an expense almost unexampled in the history of 
literature: the pecuniary outlay could not have 
been less than 300,000 pounds sterling. 

Another literary speculation of considerable im- 
portance, undertaken in 1803, was the "Annual 
Review,'' intended to comprise, in one large vol- 
ume, an account of the entire English literature of 
each year. The editorship was committed to Ar- 
thur Aikin, whose scientific and literary attain- 
ments eminently fitted him for such an office. He 

53 



LITERARY LONDON, 

was ably assisted by the distinguished members 
of his own family, and by many persons of note in 
the literary world: among whom may be men- 
tioned, in theology, the Rev. Chas. Wellbeloved, 
of York; in natural history, the late Rev. 
Wm. Wood, of Leeds; and in general literature, 
Robert Southey, and William Taylor, of Norwich. 
The numerous letters by Taylor and Southey, in 
''A Memoir of the Life and Writings^ of the for- 
•mer, 2 vols. 8vo., by J. W. Robberds, are truly in- 
teresting, as calculated to unfold some of the 
mysteries and fascinations of authorship and re- 
viewing, as well as characterising two writers, 
whose works produced many and great effects in 
the world of literature, between the years 1793 
and 1836. Though not much known to the read- 
ing community, Mr. Taylor was an extraordinary 
writer; and from the number and variety of his 
criticisms and essays, in the "Monthly Magazine,'' 
the ''Monthly Review," the "Annual Review," the 
"Anthenseum," in magazines, and other period- 
icals, he must have produced strong and important 
results on the readers of his works. The work 
was conducted by Mr. Aikin for six years, when, 
in consequence of new arrangements in the man- 
agement of the literary concern of the house, I un- 
dertook to prepare the seventh volume. In this 



PATERNOSTER ROW, ETC, 

arduous task I was materially aided by most of the 
gentlemen who had lent their service to my es- 
teemed predecessor, and I had the gratification of 
receiving a valuable contribution from Walter 
Scott, on a subject, for the treatment of which he 
was perhaps the fittest writer of the age; — ''An- 
cient Romance.'' With the seventh volume the 
work ceased. 

In the year 1807, Longman and Co. entered on 
the publication of a new periodical, called "The 
Anthenseum," under the editorship of Dr. Aikin, 
in competition with the ''Monthly Magazine,'' 
which had been commenced a few years before by 
Mr. R. PhilHps, of St. Paul's Churchyard. This 
publication consisted of monthly numbers, at one 
shilling each, was continued to the close of the 
seventh half-yearly volume, and, under the able ed- 
itorship of Dr. Aikin, assisted by the contributions 
of various members of his own family, with Dr. 
Enfield, and other persons of distinction in litera- 
ture, had acquired great popularity. The projec- 
tor was at the time regarded as a sufferer from his 
political principles; and Dr. Aikin, with other 
friends to liberal opinions in politics, readily es- 
poused his cause, and lent their talents to assist 
him. No sooner, however, had the magazine ob- 
tained an extensive circulation, than Phillips took 

55 



LITERARY LONDON. 

the entire management, and dispensed with the 
services of his first friend. The magazine, how- 
ever, if it lost from this cause much of the Hterary 
excellence and refinement which had characterized 
the earlier numbers, retained, by his judicious se- 
lection of miscellaneous matters of general inter- 
est, its hold of the popular mind, and commanded 
a very extensive sale. It occurred to Longmans 
that a magazine, which should be devoted to topics 
of a higher literary character, might be successful; 
and under this conviction they projected the peri- 
odical above-mentioned, under the title of 'The 
Athenaeum.'^ The work included contributions by 
Dr. Falconer, of Bath, and Mr. Dewhurst, of Lon- 
don; Robert Southey, — Bland, Elton, and many 
others. On this periodical I had the pleasure of 
acting as sub-editor, and furnished for it most of 
the larger articles of obituary. . But the sale did 
not yield an adequate return to compensate the 
publishers, and the work was on that account re- 
linquished. 

Not long after the discontinuance of the "Athe- 
naeum," the house embarked in an undertaking of 
great magnitude and expense, entitled 'The Brit- 
ish Gallery of Pictures," which was intended to 
consist of fine engravings from the best works of 
the old masters, in the private collections of Eng- 

5^ 



PATERNOSTER ROW, ETC, 

lish noblemen, &c., some of the prints being col- 
oured in imitation of the originals. In the plan of 
this work two objects were embraced: — firstly, 
small prints, including all the pictures in certain 
celebrated collections; and, secondly, copies of a 
selected number only of the more important and 
admired works. The latter prints were on a larger 
scale than the former, some being of the actual size 
of the original pictures. Each series was accom- 
panied by appropriate letter-press, and the prints 
in both cases were coloured. Eminent artists were 
employed to copy the pictures for engraving, as 
well as to colour the prints. Among the engrav- 
ers were Cardon, Schiavonetti, and other able 
artists; and, whilst the artistic arrangements were 
entrusted to Tomkins, the literary department was 
confided to Henry Tresham, R.A., and W. Y. Ott- 
ley; both gentlemen being well qualified for their 
respective duties. An immense outlay was in- 
curred upon this work, which was carried on for 
some years with great spirit; but it proved to be a 
very profitable speculation, and was brought to a 
premature close, when the only portion really fin- 
ished was the Cleveland-house collection, in one 
volume, folio. The water-colour drawings from 
the original pictures had been exhibited to the 
public in a gallery specially appropriated to them 

SI 



LITERARY LONDON. 

in Bond Street; and, on the termination of the 
work, the proprietors obtained an Act of ParHa- 
ment to dispose of the pictures, with the engrav- 
ings, by lottery. 

But whilst the house thus employed a large cap- 
ital, in the production of what may be termed per- 
iodical works, it was liberal in the appropriation 
of other portions to standard books, on important 
literary subjects, by authors of the most distin- 
guished reputation. Amongst these were the Aik- 
ins, Scott, Moore, and Southey. Complaints have 
often been made of the sordid spirit of booksellers, 
and their inadequate remuneration of authors. No 
doubt writers are often very badly paid for works 
upon which they have bestowed much time, la- 
bour, and talent; and the cause of literature has, 
it may be believed, suffered on this account. But 
I am quite sure the evil has not always originated 
with publishers, who, like other tradesmen, give 
for the material the amount which they deem it 
to be worth in respect to the profit it is likely to 
yield. Generally, I believe — and I speak from a 
long experience — the booksellers act with com- 
mendable liberality. A reference to a list of prices 
given by Lintot to authors, early in the last cen- 
tury — a curious document, printed by Nichols, and 
now in my possession — shows that authors, at that 

58 



PATERNOSTER ROW, ETC, 

time, were handsomely paid. In well-known in- 
stances, booksellers of a later date, — the Robin- 
sons, the Dillys, the Johnsons, the Cadells, the 
Murrays, and lastly the Longmans, — have dealt 
most liberally by authors, and on some occasions 
have given sums of large, not to say exorbitant 
amount, for manuscripts, on the bare supposition 
that the returns might justify the expenditure, and 
yield a fair trading profit. In my personal knowl- 
edge, I can say that the firm, now alluded to, al- 
ways acted in such transactions with great and 
generous spirit. 

At a later period, Oct. 1802, Longman and Co. 
became part-proprietors and London publishers 
of the ^'Edinburgh Review.'' This produced them 
an important accession of literary friends of emi- 
nent abilities, among whom were Walter Scott, 
Rev. Sidney Smith, Francis Jeffrey, Henry Brou- 
gham, Francis Horner, James Mill, and others. 

About this time they became connected also 
with John Pinkerton, the author of '^General Ge- 
ography," which appeared first in three, and after- 
wards in two quarto volumes. It was a work of 
great labour, being written and compiled from the 
best authorities in the European languages, and 
illustrated by numerous maps, engraved by Low- 
ry. Pinkerton also prepared a large ^^General At- 

59 



LITERARY LONDON. 

las," a well-executed folio volume; and, more es- 
pecially, a ''Collection of Voyages and Travels," 
in sixteen quarto volumes, with prints by the 
Cookes and others. These large and costly works 
were the joint property of Longman and Co. and 
Cadell and Davies. Pinkerton was a singular and 
degraded man. I (Britton) was made too well ac- 
quainted with him for my own reputation and for 
my own domestic comforts. He rented, and occu- 
pied, for a short time, a house. No. 9, Tavistock 
Place, next door to my own. His home was fre- 
quently a place of popular disturbance, by females 
whom he had married, or lived with, and deserted. 
When in want of money, or over-excited by drink, 
they knocked at his door, broke the windows, 
and otherwise behave riotously. He was a dis- 
reputable character; and though he had been most 
liberally paid by Longman's house, he went to 
Paris in the latter part of his life, and died in pov- 
erty in 1826. He was an author of several works, 
in poetry, history, geography, criticism; all of 
which, says the writer in 'The Penny Cyclopaedia," 
"with all their faults, not only overflow with curi- 
ous learning and research, but bear upon them the 
impression of a vigorous, an ingenious, and even 
an original mind. His violence and dogmatism, 

his arrogance and self-conceit, his pugnacity and 

60 



PATERNOSTER ROW, ETC, 

contempt for all who dissented from his views, but 
above all, his shallow and petulant attacks upon 
the common creed in religion and morals, have 
raised a general prejudice against Pinkerton, 
which has prevented justice being done to his ac- 
quirements and talents/' Mr. Dawson Turner 
possesses a large collection of his correspondence, 
from which two octavo volumes have been pub- 
lished, but not much to the credit of the Scotch- 
man. A later speculation, on a large scale, pub- 
lished by Longman's house, was ''Lardner's Cab- 
inet Cyclopaedia,'' in small i2mo., extending to 133 
volumes; for which many distinguished writers 
were engaged, and heavy expenses were incurred. 

For several years it was the custom of the firm 
to give Dinners at certain intervals, when the part- 
ners assembled around their hospitable board a 
number of authors and artists of high reputation; 
and, besides these more limited reunions, they 
opened the house in Paternoster Row, one even- 
ing in the week, during several seasons, for a 
Soiree, which was rendered easily accessible to 
persons of literary tastes, and from all countries. 

I come now to the third Class of booksellers 
who chiefly dealt in retail ; whose traffic was most- 
ly with their brother tradesmen, whom they sup- 
plied with a single copy, or several copies of 

61 



LITERARY LONDON. 

books, at what was called the trade price, which 
produced them only a small profit. Paternoster 
Row contained, at that time, several respectable 
booksellers of this class. Mr. Bladon's shop was 
the well-known depository of old plays. You may 
remember to have seen, some years ago, in Lead- 
enhall Street, a large hardware warehouse, which 
attracted the notice of all passengers by its filthy 
appearance, both on the outside and the inside. 
The proprietor was scarcely less notorious on ac- 
count of his dingy aspect, which obtained for him 
the designation of ''Dirty Dick." Bladon was 
greatly respected as a tradesman, but his shop 
might have rivalled the Leadenhall Street reposi- 
tory for its affluence in dust and soot. The next 
to be noticed is Symonds, who carried on a large 
business in the sale of periodicals, which he pur- 
chased in quantities, as they were published, and 
sold singly, or in small numbers to booksellers' 
collectors, at the wholesale prices. By this plan 
the trade was greatly accommodated, and his own 
interest promoted. He pursued the same course 
with respect to the more popular pamphlets of the 
day. In times of great political agitation, such as 
those in which he lived, this practice of publishing 
for authors was not without danger, as Symonds 

had the misfortune to experience. One tract, to 

62 



PATERNOSTER ROW, ETC, 

which he had permitted his name to be attached, 
who pronounced a Hbel; and he had to endure the 
penalty by an imprisonment of some months in 
Newgate, where I once visited him. He died in 
middle life, greatly respected. The business of this 
house was afterwards conducted on the same scale 
and plan, by Mr. Sherwood, who had been Mr. Sy- 
monds' active and valuable assistant. Contiguous 
to this shop was that of Parsons, who sold books 
and pamphlets upon the same plan, but on a less 
extensive scale. He was occasionally a publisher, 
on his own account. His chief speculation was an 
edition of Hume and Smollett's ''History of Eng- 
land," in i8mo., which, like that by Cooke, was 
embellished with prints and portraits. 

Thomas Evans, though advanced in age, ranked 
among the retail booksellers of the Row. He was 
originally a porter to Johnson, a bookseller of 
Ludgate Street, and succeeded to the business of 
Howes, Clarke, and Collins, by which he obtained 
respectability and a good fortune. The bulk of 
his property he bequeathed to Charles, father of 
the present T. Brown, already noticed. In his will, 
he directs that his funeral expenses do not exceed 
forty shillings. In early life he acted as the pub- 
lisher of the ''Morning Chronicle,'' which first ap- 
peared in 1770, and in that capacity had the mis- 

63 



LITERARY LONDON. 

fortune to offend Oliver Goldsmith, who went to 
the office and unceremoniously assailed Evans 
with a stick. The sturdy Welshman, however, 
soon recovered from his surprise, and with one 
blow laid the poet prostrate on the floor. Another 
of the retail booksellers of this period was John 
Walker, who for some time officiated as (what was 
called) the "Trade Auctioneer." He was greatly 
respected by his neighbours. In the latter part of 
his life his name was familiar to the public as pub- 
lisher of Dr. Wolcot's, alias Peter Pindar's, works. 
It is a common adage that there are "secrets in all 
trades;" and it is well known that every craft and 
calling has its peculiar customs, privileges, and 
technicalities of language. A few of the large 
wholesale publishers of London are in the habit 
of making up, either annually or occasionally, 
what are called "trade sales;" when they prepare a 
catalogue of their large stock books, and distribute 
it to a select number of retail dealers, who are in- 
vited to meet the publisher and his auctioneer at a 
certain tavern, where, after partaking of an early 
dinner, the "trade auctioneer" proceeds to dispose 
of the works named in the catalogue, to the par- 
ties present. The various lots comprise many 
copies of recently-published works, and are offered 

and sold at rather less than the usual trade prices; 

64 



PATERNOSTER ROW, ETC, 

the purchasers being, moreover, allowed to give 
bills, at three, at four, eight, twelve, and sixteen 
months, according to the amount they buy, or take 
a moderate discount for cash. Hence have origi- 
nated two great evils in the bookselling business; 
namely, the encouragement to print large editions 
of books, from the facility of disposing of them 
at reduced prices, and the depreciation of those 
works in the public market, by copies being offered 
at such sales ^ much below their original prices. 
Mr. Walker, I believe, was amongst the first trade 
auctioneers, and was followed by Mr. Saunders, a 
prompt, off-hand man, whose language and pe- 
culiarity of manners are humorously burlesqued in 
*'Chalcographiomania.'' The celebrated William 
Hone was for a short time auctioneer to the trade, 
but was irregular in his accounts, whence arose 
many embarrassments in after life. Two large 
stock-holders of books have since become their 
own salesmen, on these occasions : both eminently 
qualified, from promptitude of thought and action, 
and extensive knowledge of business. The late 
Thomas Tegg of the "Poultry,'^ when I first knew 
him, kept a small shop in St. John's Street, for 
pamphlets, songs, &c. Thence he removed to 
Cheapside, where he accumulated a large stock of 
books, and established an evening auction. He 



LITERARY LONDON, 

afterwards took the old Mansion-house in the 
Poultry, and progressively published numerous 
books. Having settled one of his sons in Austra- 
lia, he thereby obtained a channel for the sale of 
large editions of cheap books, and deemed it ex- 
pedient to adopt the practice of some of the great 
publishing firms, by making up an annual sale, 
and acting as auctioneer. My friend, Mr. H. G. 
Bohn, has followed the same track, and has as- 
tonished the Metropolitan traders in* literature by 
the stock brought forward, the rapidity of dis- 
patch, and the novelties he has introduced into this 
branch of London business. Mr. Hodgson, of 
Fleet Street, is at present the confidential and re- 
spected agent of the London publishers. The 
poems of Peter Pindar, this once noted and power- 
ful satirist, were extensively read at the end of the 
last century. They were, however, very dear to 
the purchaser, being printed in thin quarto pam- 
phlets at 2s. 6d. each, and containing only a very 
small portion of letter-press. His first attacks, in 
1782, were the Royal Academicians, some of whom 
he assailed with bitter satire, sarcasm, and irony. 
King George the Third was next vituperated, in a 
poem called "The Lousiad," descriptive of the cir- 
cumstances of an animal, unnamable to "ears po- 
lite,'' being seen on the plate of the monarch at a 

66 



PATERNOSTER ROW, ETC. 

royal dinner. For some years the author con- 
tinued to pubHsh his phiHppes against artists, 
royal and noble personages, and also on some 
authors; one of whom, Wm. Gifford, who had 
written the ''Baviad and Mseviad,'^ a poem, in 
which many of the authors of the time were se- 
verely castigated, also wielded his galled pen 
against the morals and poetry of Dr. Wolcot. This 
castigation was so stringent and caustic that the 
Doctor was provoked to seek his lampooner in 
the shop of Mr. Wright, a political publisher, of 
Piccadilly. Thither Peter repaired, with a stout 
cudgel in hand, determined to inflict a summary 
and severe chastisement on his literary opponent. 
Gifford was a small and weak person; Wolcot was 
large, and strengthened by passion, but he was a 
coward, and after a short personal struggle was 
turned into the street by two or three persons, 
then in the shop. Gifford afterwards wrote and 
printed an ''Epistle to Peter Pindar," with an "In- 
troduction and Postscript," 1800, in which he dealt 
out a most virulent and unqualified tirade against 
the Doctor. It acquired great popularity, and in a 
few weeks attained a third edition. The pamphlet 
has not any publisher's name. This was the sec- 
ond victory which Gifford had achieved over lit- 
erary opponents; a former being Anthony Pas- 

67 



LITERARY LONDON, 



quin, alias John Williams, a man notoriously acri- 
monious and severe in his poetical and prose criti- 
cisms on actors, actresses, and authors. Gifford 
was amongst the .number, who smarted from his 
lashes, and who retaliated by lines more caustic 
and personal. For these Williams brought an ac- 
tion for libel, but was driven out of the Court of 
King's Bench by the unanimous reprobation of 
judge, jury, and the auditors assembled. I was 
present at that memorable trial ; and can never for- 
get the severity of sarcasm and irony exerted by 
Garrow, counsel for the defendant, against the no- 
torious libeller, who had the effrontery and impu- 
dence to ask for damages, in a court of law, for 
what he called injury to private and public charac- 
ter. Notorious, and despised for his long career of 
literary vituperation and scandal, the Judge inter- 
rupted Mr. Garrow, and asked the Jury if they 
thought it desirable to proceed further with the 
trial, or non-suit the plaintiff. The latter was f5ro- 
noimced instanter. In the wide and diversified 
annals of literature, the reader will seek in vain for 
three more notorious and unprincipled satirists 
than the triumvirate here alluded to. 

Wolcot's connection with Paternoster Row and 
John Walker arose from the latter becoming the 
publisher of some of the former's writings, and ul- 

63 



PATERNOSTER ROW, ETC, 

timately proprietor of the whole. I have heard 
Peter boast, he was the only author that ever out- 
witted, or "took in" a publisher. His works had 
attained great popularity, and produced for the 
writer a large annual income; and many of them 
were often out of print. Walker was disposed 
to purchase the copyrights, and print a collected 
edition. He first made the author a handsome 
ofifer in cash, and then an annuity. The poet drove 
a hard bargain for the latter, and said that ''as he 
was very old and in a dangerous state of health, 
with a d — d asthma, and stone in the bladder, he 
could not last long.'' The bookseller offered £200 
a year, the poet required £400; and every time the 
Doctor visited the Row he coughed, breathed ap- 
parently in much pain, and acted the incurable and 
dangerous invalid so effectively, that the publisher 
at last agreed to pay him £250 annually for life. A 
fine edition of his works was published in three 
volumes, 8vo., 1794, with a portrait and engraved 
title-pages; other editions have since appeared. 
Another portrait of him was pubHshed, as a sep- 
arate print, which did not sell to any extent; but 
its proprietor derived a great profit by taking out 
the name of Peter Pindar and substituting that of 
"Renwick Williams, the Monster," who was no- 
torious for stabbing ladies in the streets. This 

69 



LITERARY LONDON. 

event was related to me by the Poet. A good ac- 
count of his hfe is given in the 'Tenny Cyclo- 
paedia/^ Mr. Cyrus Redding, who had been familiar 
with Wolcot for many years, gave some interest- 
ing anecdotes of him in the "New Monthly Maga- 
zine,'' vols. 17 and 19; and has recently written 
further notice in "The Athenaeum" for May and 
June 1852, to correct certain mis-statements in 
Jerdan's "x\uto-Biography." Wolcot died in Som- 
ers-Town, Jan. 13, 1807, in the 8ist year of his 
age, and was buried at St. Paul's, Covent Garden. 

Mr. Bent was a bookseller of long standing in 
the Row, but he was chiefly known as the pub- 
lisher of that very useful work, the "London Cata- 
logue of Books," first printed in 1799, which is still 
continued monthly by Mr. T. Hodgson. This gen- 
tleman is also editor of "The London Catalogue 
of Books, published in Great Britain, with their 
Sizes, Prices, and PubHshers' Names, from 1814 to 
1846," 8vo. 1846; and "Bibliotheca Londinensis: 
a Classified Index to the Literature of Great Brit- 
ain during Thirty Years," 8vo. 1848. Bent also 
pubHshed "The Universal Magazine," a periodical 
which at one time had an extensive sale. 

I may conclude my Hst of retail booksellers with 
the names of the Wilkies, brothers, who were long 
respected inhabitants of the Row. With their re- 



PATERNOSTER ROW, ETC. 

tail business they carried on a wholesale trade of 
some extent in supplying country booksellers. 
One of the brothers, Thomas Wilkie, trafficked 
also in the public securities, and kept an office for 
the sale of lottery tickets. He removed to Salis- 
bury, where I became acquainted with him, 1798, 
and found him obliging and kindly disposed. 
Amongst other things, he told me that on the first 
performance of Sheridan's play of 'The Rivals,'' 
which the Wilkies published, the author was so 
scantily supplied with wardrobe, that he borrowed 
a shirt of Mr. W.'s father to witness the first act- 
ing of his own play, but forgot to return the said 
shirt; as he did also a few guineas, which he had 
borrowed of the same party. 

In Ave Maria Lane, the firm of Scatcherd and 
Letterman carried on a large wholesale country 
business. Amongst other works they published, 
was "London and its Environs, or the General 
Ambulator." The 12th edition, 1820, greatly en- 
larged and improved by Mr. Brayley, is now be- 
fore me, and is a very useful work, though sup- 
planted by the justly-popular publications by 
Charles Knight: ^'Pictorial London," 6 vols. 1841. 
In the same lane, the house of Law was chiefly 
noted for school-books. An apprentice, and after- 
wards managing clerk, in that business, was Peter 



LITERARY LONDON, 

Courtier, whose partiality for poetry induced him 
to write and publish a volume of ''Verses," some 
of which had appeared in periodicals. He was the 
first mover, in and an active supporter of ''the 
School of Eloquence." 

The Laws were succeeded by the Whit- 
takers, whose active exertions and skill in 
business speedily increased it to a great extent. 
Amongst many of their publications, was one in 
five volumes, by Miss Mitford, called "Our Vil- 
lage," which has passed through several editions, 
and is justly admired for the vivid fancy, the 
pathos, and amiable sympathy which pervade its 
pages. This work is now brought Into two vol- 
umes by Mr. H. G. Bohn, and issued in his pop- 
ular series of books. She first appeared as a poet 
in 1810. The reader will find some pleasing, and 
justly complimentary, remarks on Miss Mitford's 
writings, in a recently published and interesting 
volume, "A Journal of Summer-time in the Coun- 
try," by the Rev. R. A. Willmott. Second edition, 
1832. 

William Pinnock was author of a long list of 
books, which, though little known in the literary 
world, have been of great value in the advance- 
ment of education and knowledge. All his writ- 
ings have been adapted and addressed to the ju- 



PATERNOSTER ROW, ETC, 

venile age, and have been peculiarly calculated to 
''teach the young idea how to shoot/' and tempt it 
to pursue the path of learning with pleasantry and 
even fascination. By "The London Catalogue 
from 1814 to 1846/' I see that Pinnock has pro- 
duced twelve volumes of Catechisms, eight of His- 
tories, and twenty-two others on Grammar, Lan- 
guages, Arithmetic, Geography, Poetry, &c. 
These books have all been very popular and profit- 
able to the publishers, though the author has, like 
too many other improvident ones, known the gall- 
ing pressure of indigence. 

Near Mr. Law's house, was the printing and 
publishing establishment of J. Wilkes, who be- 
came well known by the "Encyclopaedia Londin- 
ensis," with numerous engravings, a work which 
extended to twenty-six volumes, at £63, and had a 
considerable sale. The names of Wilkes, Ave-Ma- 
ria Lane, and Encyclopaedia Londinensis, are in- 
delibly impressed on my (Britton's) memory. On 
my first visit to Salisbury, in 1798, I assumed the 
title, or rather it was forced upon me, of Artist; 
and Mr. Easton, a bookseller and printer of the 
city, asked me to make a drawing of Salisbury 
Cathedral, to be engraved for, and published in, 
the great "national work" above-named. My am- 
bition was aroused, but I was terrified; for I knew 

73 



LITERARY LONDON. 

not how or where to begin, nor how or in what 
manner I was to proceed, even if I dared under- 
take such a herculean task. I was impelled to try; 
had pencils, rulers, and a table placed opposite the 
middle of the North chief transept. With the print 
from Price's ''Survey," from the same point, be- 
fore me, I sketched, and scratched, and rubbed 
out; and continued thus occupied for three suc- 
cessive days, with several persons looking on, and 
wondering at my temerity and incompetency. Of- 
ten have I reflected on this scene and event; and 
more than once have I heard friends, who were 
there, remark on the exhibition, and their aston- 
ishment at seeing afterwards a tolerably-executed 
engraving from the sketch then made. 

In Stationers' Court was the warehouse of B. 
Crosby, one of the original partners in the "Beau- 
ties of England and Wales," who had a very ex- 
tensive country business, which has for some years 
been conducted by Simpkin and Marshall. 
Though not distinguished as publishers, this firm 
carries on the largest business in the book-trade 
of any house in Europe, and is only rivalled per- 
haps by the Harpers, of New York. The only 
daughter of the late Mr. Simpkin is the wife of 
the most enterprising and energetic publisher and 
bookseller of this metropolis, Henry G. Bohn, 



PATERNOSTER ROW, ETC. 

whose Catalogue of Books of 1841 is unprecedent- 
ed for the number, value, and variety of its articles. 
It extends to no less than 1948 octavo pages. 

This paved Court is associated with my own 
personal and topographical reminiscences too 
memorably to be passed unnoticed. In this cen- 
tral part of London, resided John, Duke of Bre- 
tagne and Earl of Richmond, during the reigns 
of Edwards II. and III., in a large mansion which 
was afterwards occupied by an Earl of Pembroke, 
and called Pembroke's Inn. It was afterwards 
possessed by the Company of Stationers, who re- 
built it of wood. That was burnt in the great fire 
of London, after which the present plain, taste- 
less Hall was erected. According to Clarendon, 
the stationers' property then destroyed was valued 
at £200,000. Here the Company of Stationers 
hold their courts, transact their business, register 
and deposit books, and assemble frequently at the 
festive board. ' At two of the Master's feasts I 
have been a guest, and enjoyed the company, con- 
versation, and civic repasts with much zest. The 
Portraits preserved here remind us of names and 
literary works which have excited our curiosity 
and gratified our feelings in early reading days. 
These are of Richardson, Prior, Steele, Hoadly, 
Nelson, Dryden, Alderman Boydell, and others. 

75 



LITERARY LONDON, 

The first was one of the Masters of the Company, 
and had his wife painted for the place, to keep him 
company. Leigh Hunt, speaking of these por- 
traits says, that representing the author of Clarissa 
Harlowe represents him as a ''sensitive, enduring 
man — a heap of bad nerves/' He further remarks, 
that Hoadly, ''looks at once jovial and decided, 
like a good-natured controversialist." Concerts, 
as well as dinners, were frequently performed in 
this hall. Odes and other pieces were written for 
such occasions. Amongst these, Dryden's^Song 
for Saint CeciHa's Day," was produced in 1687; 
and, ten years afterwards, "Alexander's Feast" was 
written, composed, and performed: the composer 
being Jeremiah Clarke, who shot himself "for 
love." Though the Hall and Company of Sta- 
tioners are associated with pleasant memories, 
persons, and events, there are others which tend to 
lower both in my own estimation. From the com- 
mencement of my (Britton's) literary career to the 
present time, I have been obliged (by Act of Par- 
liament) to present one copy of every book which 
I have written and published to this company. 
This is the only London Company whose mem- 
bers are restricted to their own craft. It is called, 
"The Mystery or Art of the Stationers.'^ For many 

years the said Stationers assumed the exclusive 

76 



PATERNOSTER ROW, ETC. 

privilege of publishing all the almanacs of the 
country, and produced many which were frivolous 
and illiterate in style and matter. To counteract 
these, Charles Knight projected and pubhshed, for 
'The Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowl- 
edge," in 1828, 'The British Almanac,'^ which has 
become eminently and justly popular, and has also 
superseded most of the almanacs which dissemi- 
nated astrological nonsense and literary absurdity. 
The reader will find a very interesting paper on the 
history and characteristics of almanacs in 'The 
Companion to the British Almanac,'' for 1829; also 
in 'The London Magazine,'' for December, 1828. 

Proceeding to the northwest corner of St. Paul's 
Churchyard, w^e recognize a name associated with 
the earliest recollections of youthful readers, — 
that of Newberry, who, after Carnan, furnished the 
largest and most interesting contributions to the 
juvenile libraries of the country. On the death of 
Newberry, his widow continued the business aid- 
ed by John Harris, who" afterwards became her 
successor. He was in turn succeeded by his son, 
who soon transferred the business to the present 
firm of Grant and Griffiths. 

Francis Newberry, a member of the above-men- 
tioned family, had a house on the east side of the 
Churchyard, near Cheapside, where he sold Dr. 



LITER A RY L ON DON. 

James's celebrated fever powder, as a patent med- 
icine. He was also proprietor of Paterson's ''Road 
Book/^ which, by judicious management and pro- 
gressive improvement, he rendered a very lucra- 
tive property. The editing and publication of that 
volume was a favourite occupation of Francis 
Newberry, and he pursued it to the end of his life. 
The stock and copyright were afterwards pos- 
sessed by Mr. Mogg, who made further improve- 
ments. The volume is now extinct: railways have 
superseded stage coaches, and steam power that 
of horses. 

Joseph Johnson long occupied a prominent sta- 
tion in St. Paul's Churchyard. He held the same 
position amongst the liberal Protestant dissenters 
that the Rivingtons did with the members of the 
Church of England. He was truly generous in 
dealing with authors, by frequently adding to the 
price originally agreed on for a successful manu- 
script; and in this manner he is said to have paid 
as much as £10,000 for Hayley's ''Life of Cow- 
per.'' Johnson issued the works of Price, Priest- 
ley, Belsham, and many others; together with 
"The Analytical Review." Having published a 
libellous pamphlet, by Gilbert Wakefield, reflect- 
ing on Dr. Watson, Bishop of Llandafif, the author 

was imprisoned for two years, and Johnson, as the 

78 



PATERNOSTER ROW, ETC. 

publisher, for six months. This incarceration ap- 
pears to have produced beneficial effects to the 
warm-hearted pubhsher. Instead of enjoying the 
converse and social company of his talented au- 
thors, he studied his ledger, which had been neg- 
lected; and by sending notices of its unsettled con- 
tents to different debtors, he realized a large 
amount of income on being released from prison. 
At stated periods his house was open to literary 
men; and his parties derived great interest from 
the presence of such persons as Doctors Price, 
Priestley, Geddes, and Aikin; Bonnycastle, Fuseli, 
Gilbert Wakefield, Mary Wolstoncraft, and many 
others. 

Sir Richard, then Mr., Phillips, commenced 
business in St. Paul's Churchyard, by publishing 
"The Monthly Magazine,'' in 1796. He had pre- 
viously been settled at Leicester, first as a school- 
master, and afterwards as a bookseller; but polit- 
ical causes obliged him to quit that town. His 
case met with much sympathy in London, as he 
had incurred heavy losses by his removal. He 
was a mon of strong mind and varied attainments, 
and, with a view to repair his injured fortunes, 
he projected the magazine above-mentioned. Dr. 
Aikin, who was much interested in Phillips's suc- 
cess, edited this periodical, and was aided by his 

79 



LITERARY LONDON, 

sister, Mrs. Barbauld, by his friend, Dr. Wm. En- 
field, also by Godwin, Holcroft, and many other 
writers. Johnson at first published this period- 
ical, as agent for Phillips; and his extensive con- 
nexion enabled him to promote its success. The 
speculative proprietor was, however, soon induced 
to open a small shop for himself, and about the 
same time he also undertook the task of editing 
his magazine; thus dispensing with the services 
of two of his best friends. The ''Monthly'' rapidly 
increased in popularity and profit, and for many 
years continued to be a valuable property. Phil- 
lips published numerous other works, chiefly edu- 
cational, many of which were written by himself, 
but appeared under the names of popular authors ; 
who probably revised the proofs, and allowed 
their names to be attached, for a pecuniary consid- 
eration. Like his competitors, Phillips pubHshedan 
''Encyclopaedia," professedly under the editorship 
of Dr. Gregory; but which was in fact mostly writ- 
ten by Jeremiah Joyce, whose varied scientific at- 
tainments were most inadequately appreciated. In 
the year 1807, this enterprising publisher served as 
one of the Sheriffs of London, and discharged the 
duties of that important office with zeal, energy, 
and great credit. During this period he was 
knighted, on presenting an address on behalf of 

80 



PATERNOSTER ROW, ETC, 

the ministers. In the latter part of his career he 
suffered severely by the panic, and was obliged 
to surrender his business to his creditors. Besides 
numerous original papers in "The Monthly Mag- 
azine/^ Sir Richard was also author of the follow- 
ing literary works: ''A Letter to the Livery of 
London, on the Office of Sheriff," 8vo. 1808; "On 
the Powers and Duties of Juries, and on the Crim- 
inal Laws of England,'^ 8vo. 181 1; "A Morning's 
Walk from London to Kew," 8vo. 1817; "Golden 
Rules of Social Philosophy, or a New System of 
Practical Ethics,^' 8vo. 1826; "A Personal Tour 
Through the United Kingdom,'' 8vo. 1828. It is 
also stated that he originated and published num- 
erous treatises on "The Interrogatory System,'' 
in school education, which has proved eminently 
successful. He was likewise author of "Twelve 
Essays on the Proximate Causes of the Universe," 
being a reformed system of natural philosophy; 
substituting matter and motion for what he called 
"the silly superstitions and fancies'' of attraction, 
repulsion, &c. These works abound with orig- 
inality of thought, expressed in terse and pungent 
language. Though the "Walk to Kew" and the 
"Personal Tour" do not contain much topograph- 
ical and antiquarian information, they tempt the 
reader to accompany and sympathize with the 



LITERARY LONDON, 

writer, by the fund of anecdote, vivid description, 
and shrewdness of commentary, which pervade 
every page. In reading these works, the young 
student cannot fail to regard the author amongst 
the philosophers and moralists of his age and 
country. Sir Richard was a native of London, 
where he was born in 1767, and died at Brighton, 
April 1st, 1840. He thus writes to me from Brigh- 
ton in April 1838, two years before his decease: 
''Your friendly letter was a ray of sunshine on a 
very dull day. You struck out for yourself a path 
of literary renown, and I am quite sure you have 
reached the summit. For my own part, my pur- 
suits have been so diversified for the last twenty 
years, that I had almost forgotten one of my 
youngest literary children — The Walk to Kew.' 
Your approbation I value, because on such a sub- 
ject you are a first-rate judge. You must have 
read fifty such works: I never read one; and there- 
fore, in my mind, there is no element of compari- 
son. I had no design of the book when I took the 
walk; and my notes were very scanty. Had it 
been republished with a dozen good engravings, 
it might have become popular. Another volume 
might have been devoted to Hampton Court, and 
^ third to Windsor.'' 

The name and house of Carrington Bowles, on 

82 



PATERNOSTER ROW, ETC, 

the north side of St. Paul's Churchyard, were noted 
for the number and variety of popular Prints which 
were distributed thence all over the country at the 
end of the last and beginning of the present century. 
* 'Death and the Lady/^ a figure half skeleton, half 
female — ''Keep within compass,'^ a beau with 
cocked hat, scarlet coat, &c., standing between 
the two legs of a pair of compasses, and other 
showy, admonitory pictures, were to be seen in 
the farm-houses and cottages in Wiltshire, in my 
youth-days, whence the names of publisher and 
place were impressed on the young mind. The 
late Mr. C. Bowles, on retiring from business with 
a handsome fortune, built a large villa or mansion 
at Enfield, on the bank of the New River, and 
called it Myddleton House, in compliment to the 
adventurous speculator in that important under- 
taking. Mr. Bowles's ancestor possessed shares in 
the New River Company, which were bequeathed 
to the son, who for many years was an active mem- 
ber of that company. He was a Fellow of the 
Society of Antiquaries and took great interest in 
its weekly meetings. 

Charles Dilly, of the Poultry, was the survivor 
of two brothers, who published largely, and ac- 
cumulated handsome fortunes. On relinquishing 
business, he was succeeded by Joseph Mawman, 

83 



LITERARY LONDON, 

of York, who afterwards removed to Ludgate 
Street, where he was succeeded by Mr. Fellows. 
Mr. Mawman published ''An Excursion to the 
Highlands of Scotland," &c., 8vo. 1805, which 
contains two prints from drawings by Turner. 

The firm of Vernor and Hood had removed the 
business from Birchin Lane to the Poultry, where 
they published many literary works, and with 
whom I (Britton) commenced my literary career 
as a Topographer. My business and personal con- 
nections with that House involve reminiscences of 
persons, books, and events, which would afiford 
matter for a moderately-sized volume. From the 
year 1799 to 1810, I was in almost constant com- 
munication with Mr. Hood, who was the manag- 
ing partner, and who was an active, persevering, 
punctilious man of business. The House, attained 
considerable distinction in the literary world by 
the publication of Bloomfeld's ''Farmer's Boy,'^ 
and other volumes of poems by the rustic, self-ed- 
ucated author — by the exuberant praises of Capel 
Lofft— by the publication of "The Monthl}^ Mir- 
ror," under the editorship of Edward Dubois an3 
Thomas Hill — by "The Poetical Magazine,'' ed- 
ited by David Carey, who had published "The 
Pleasures of Nature,'' with other poetry, novels, 
&c. Among many works which issued from this 



PATERNOSTER ROW, ETC, 

firm was 'The Beauties of Wiltshire'' and 'The 
Beauties of England and Wales," with the accom- 
panying ''British Atlas.'' In 1808 the House ac- 
quired much notoriety by a trial in the Court of 
King's Bench, when Sir John Carr brought an 
action-at-law against these publishers for a libel on 
himself and his literary works. This author had 
obtained much reputation for his Tours in France, 
in the North, in Holland, in Ireland, &c., and has 
been rewarded by different publishers with nearly 
two thousand pounds for copyrights. His "Tour 
in Holland," one volume 4to, 1807, which was 
purchased and published by Sir Richard 
Phillips, was turned into ridicule by Ed- 
ward Dubois, in a sportive, ironical, and 
satirical small volume, entitled "My Pocket 
Book,'' written in a fluent, anecdotical, gossipping 
style. The "Tours" were much read and abund- 
antly commented on by the regular reviews and 
by daily journals. The author obtained fame and 
fortune, when the witty and caustic satire alluded 
to provoked him and the publisher to prosecute 
the writer of "My Pocket Book." A verdict was 
given, in behalf of the liberty of the press, against 
the plaintiff, who was non-suited, and driven from 
the court in disgrace. A full account of the trial 

was published, with several letters from the Earl 

85 



LITERARY LONDON, 

of Mountnorris, Sir Richard Phillips, and the au- 
thor of ''My Pocket Book" — Edward Dubois. See 
account of this publication and of the "Pocket 
Book" in 'The Annual Review/' vol. vii. 1808. 

C. Forster, of 91, Poultry, published, amongst 
other works, "The Literary Magazine and British 
Review," which extended from 1788 to 1794. It 
is distinguished for a series of well-engraved por- 
traits, mostly by T. Holloway, accompanied by 
original memoirs; also other prints and essays on 
literary and scientific subjects. 

Under the Royal Exchange, John Richardson, 
who was a highly respected tradesman, carried on 
an extensive trade amongst the city merchants. 
He was one of the original proprietors of "The 
Beauties of England," and was assisted by a 
nephew of the same name. 

In the same street, Mr. J. Sewell, a worthy but 
eccentric man, published the "European Maga- 
zine;" the biographical articles in which, especially 
those connected with the drama, were written by 
Isaac Reed, who edited the work for many years, 
and was succeeded by Stephen Jones. Mr. Moser 
was a prolific writer in this popular periodical, 
which contained many well-engraved portraits. 
Amongst them was one of Dr. Joseph Priestley, 
in profile, drawn by myself, from life, when the 

86 



PATERNOSTER ROW, ETC, 

reverend philosopher was reading a farewell dis- 
course to a crowded congregation in Hackney 
Church, in March, 1794. 

At the northeast corner of Bishopsgate Street, 
Messrs. Arch, two Quaker brothers, enjoyed an 
excellent retail trade. They had shares in "The 
Beauties of England,'' and were the publishers of 
Turner and Cooke's ''Southern Coast," which con- 
tains many fine specimens of the skill of the re- 
spective artists. This work, somewhat .Hke "The 
Beauties," was the cause of repeated disputes be- 
tween the publishers and the artists and authors. 
The late amiable William Alexander, then one of 
the curators of the British Museum, wrote an ur- 
gent and kindly-expressed letter to Messrs. Arch, 
advising them to pay more liberal prices to the en- 
gravers. I have a copy of that letter, from the 
original in possession of Dawson Turner, Esq. 

The "Minerva Press,'^ by Wm. Lane, in Lead- 
enhall Street, must not be omitted in this short re- 
trospect of the older metropolitan publishers. It 
was noted for the number and variety of books, 
called novels, which were continually produced 
and distributed to all the circulating libraries in 
the country. From ten to twenty pounds were the 
sums usually paid to ai!ithors for those novels of 
three volumes. The Colburns and Bentleys drove 
this trash out of the market. 

87 



part II. 

FLEET STREET, RED LION 

PASS A GE, CHANCER Y LANE, 

HIGH HOLBORN. 




part II. 

FLEET STREET, RED LION PASSAGE, 

CHANCERY LANE, AND HIGH 

HOLBORN. 

Fleet Street and its Immediate Vicinity — McCreery — Nightingale Ryl- 
ance-John Major— Walton and Cotton's Angler— Walpole Anecdotes 
— Rev. T. F. Dibdin — Kearsley — Quarterly Review— John Murray — 
George Cruik shank— W. Hone and his Trials— Wm. Cobbett— E. 
Williams— The John Bull — London Magazine and its Contributors— 
J. Taylor— J. H. Wiffin— Duke of Bedford— T. Bensley— Red Lion 
Passage — John Nichols and Jiis Literary Anecdotes — A. J. Valpy — 
Wm. Pickering — The Bridgewater Treatises — High Holborn — The 
Architectural Antiquities of Great Britain — John Britton's Partners — 
O. Rees — Josiah Taylor. 

a|? LEET Street and its immediate vicinage 
Jl are noted in the annals of Literature for 
the number and estimation of authors, printers, 
and publishers who have been located here, in 
addition to those already named. Amongst these 
may be specified John McCreery, an eminent 
printer, who had distinguished himself at Liver- 



LITERARY LONDON, 



pool by writing and publishing a poem, called 
*The Press/' This was reprinted and a second 
part added, on his settling in the metropolis. He 
was strongly recommended to the London pub- 
lishers by Mr. Roscoe. In his employ were Ralph 
Rylance and John Nightingale, two young men, 
who were afterwards engaged in writing and edit- 
ing* several literary works for London publishers. 
Three volumes on "London,'^ part of "The Beau- 
ties of England," were compiled by the latter, in a 
very heedless manner. He was author of two oc- 
tavo volumes, ''Portraitures of Methodism'^ and 
of "Catholicism." His friend and associate, Ry- 
lance, was a learned, diligent, and trustworthy 
author, and was much employed by the house of 
Longman and Co. in translations, preparing the 
manuscripts of inexperienced authors for the press 
and on miscellaneous literature. He was a most 
worthy and honourable man. He became de- 
ranged in intellect and died in the prime of life, 
respected by all who knew him. 

Benjamin Martin, an optician and author al- 
ready referred to, had a shop and lived many years 
in this street. The long list of his publications — 
more than sixty volumes, all of which were emi- 
nently useful, and many of them popular, specified 

in Watts's "Bibliotheca Britannica"— show that he 

92 



FLEET STREET, ETC, 

must have been industrious and scientific; but also 
prove how fleeting and evanescent is Hterary fame. 
John Major Hved on the south side of Fleet 
vStreet, for some years, having removed from No. 
71, Great Russell Street, Bloomsbury. He was 
much respected by a numerous circle of book- 
lovers and book-buyers, and particularly by the 
followers and disciples of Isaac Walton : by artists, 
poets, and the friends of the three. A poet, him- 
self, and fond of books, not only as articles to im- 
part good counsel, and the most disinterested and 
wholesome advice, he was constantly in their com- 
pany. His shop was well stocked with some of 
the choicest, and he successively published, with 
useful and discriminating notation and fine em- 
bellishments, "Walton and Cotton on Angling;" 
the "Physiognomical Portraits," 100 heads beau- 
tifully engraved with Biographical Sketches, 2 
vols, large 8vo., and large 4to. 1824; "Robinson 
Crusoe," designs by Stothard; "Hogarth Moral- 
ized,'^ by the Rev. Dr. Mavor; Walpole's "Anec- 
dotes of Painting,'^ in 5 vols. imp. Svo., 1835; ''The 
Cabinet Gallery of Pictures,'' with Critical Disser- 
tations by Allan Cunningham, 2 vols. imp. 8vo., 
1833. This interesting publication contains y2 
prints, and a series of essays on the respective 
subjects and their authors, by one of the most 

93 



LITERARY LONDON, 

honest and discriminating writers on such mat- 
ters. 

Walpole's ''Anecdotes/' from the manuscript 
collections of Virtue, was a work in much estima- 
tion by readers in the fine arts, for some time after 
its publication; but thence to the time Major pro- 
duced his new edition, there were various sources 
opened, and further information easily obtainable, 
for correcting and greatly enlarging the book. 
Had Major engaged Allan Cunningham instead 
of the Rev. James Dallaway, he would 
have benefited himself and have satisfied his crit- 
ical customers. But, alas! this was not the case: 
an unsatisfactory and erroneous book was pro- 
duced, though lavishly embelHshed with 150 prints 
of portraits, &c., also good paper and printing. 
Some of the portraits were skillfully engraved by 
Robinson, Scriven, Worthington, and Finden. 
From printing too many copies, a large remainder 
was sold off after the bankruptcy of its publisher, 
and Mr. Bohn disposed of them at the reduced 
prices of £4 for the small, and five guineas the 
large paper, with India proofs; instead of ten 
guineas for the former, and fifteen for the latter. 

Some of these publications obtained the unqual- 
ified encomiums of the Rev. Dr. T. F. Dibdin, in 
his ''Reminiscences of a Literary Life,'^ 1836; but 

94 



FLEET STREET, ETC. 

it was unfortunate for the honest bookseller to be 
too famihar and confiding in the unprincipled par- 
son. The former accepted bills to a large amount 
drawn by the latter, who failed to honour them, 
and the consequence was bankruptcy and total 
ruin. Major sunk never to rise again : for his mind 
became deranged, and he was placed under re- 
straint. Recovering, in some measure, he was re- 
leased from the asylum, and found a retreat and 
comparative comfort in the Charter-house, Lon- 
don, where three other respectable booksellers 
were then sheltered and maintained in old age. 

Mr. Kearsley, of the same street, published the 
''English Review;'' also the "English Encyclo- 
paedia,'' in several quarto volumes: the last pub- 
lication possessed considerable merit. He also 
produced many other works, which became ex- 
ceedingly popular and profitable — the ''Beauties" 
of different authors. Those of Sterne, Johnson, 
Shakspeare; of the Spectator, Tatler, and Ram- 
bler, and other periodicals, were selling for many 
years, and reprinted in several editions. These, 
with Adams's "Flowers of Ancient and Modern 
History," "Flowers of Modern Travels," "English 
Parnassus," "Curious Thoughts on the History 
of Man," constituted a large portion of my early 
library. I have now before me "the eleventh edi- 
tion" of Sterne's "Beauties," 1790. 

95 



LITERARY LONDON, 

In Fleet Street originated 'The Quarterly Re- 
view/^ which was commenced in February, 1809, 
by John Murray. This gentleman, in a respecta- 
ble Hne of business, evidently possessed strong re- 
ligious and political opinions, and was annoyed 
at the popularity and signal effects which the ''Ed- 
inburgh Review'^ was producmg in the republic 
of literature. To oppose, and endeavour to coun- 
teract its "virus,^' as called by Mr. Canning, he ad- 
dressed a letter to that gentleman, — then Chan- 
cellor of the Exchequer, — suggesting and urging 
the necessity of printing a periodical, the joint 
production of some of the most eminent Tories of 
the time, in opposition to the famed "Northern 
Review.'^ He tells Mr. Canning that "he is no 
adventurer, but a man of some property, inher- 
iting a business that has been established for near- 
ly a century." This led to a correspondence, and 
to communications with William Gifford, Walter 
Scott, George Ellis, Hookham Frere, George 
Rose, Robert Southey, and some others of name 
and note, and very speedily to the publication of 
the first number. The high and rancorous spirit 
of Tory party, which then prevailed, thus obtained 
a dauntless champion, who has combated vigor- 
ously and intrepidly four times in the year up to 

the present age of peace, and a comparative truce 

96 



FLEET STREET, ETC. , 

111 the war-fields of politics. Both reviews have 
produced decided and important effects on the lit- 
erature and politics of the country; and it cannot 
fail to interest and instruct the lover of books to 
look over and compare the early writings in these 
periodicals with the ''Monthly/' the "Critical," the 
''Anti-jacobin/' and other "Reviews'' which had 
long occupied the critical market. Mr. Murray 
removed from Fleet Street to Albemarle Street 
in 1812, to premises that had been occupied by 
William Miller, who had published some fine and 
expensive books. Amongst these were Forster's 
"British Gallery of Engravings," folio; Blome- 
field's "History, &c., of Norfolk,'' 10 vols. 4to. and 
imp. 8vo.; "The Itinerary of Archbishop Baldwin 
through Wales," 2 vols. 4to. 1806. The last work 
is peculiarly impressed on my mind, by a circum- 
stance which gave me much annoyance at the 
time of its publication. Mr. Miller, knowing that 
I was acquainted with many book collectors and 
antiquaries tempted me to subscribe for six 
copies, by allowing a discount of thirty per cent, 
under the pubhshing price, and payment by bill 
at three months after delivery. This induced me 
to speculate: I gave the bill, and was prepared to 
pay on the day it became due. The banker's clerk, 
however, failed to present it, and on the next day 



LITERARY LONDOI^, 

I had a notice that the bill was at a banker's, and 
there was 3s. 6d. due for noting the same. Unac- 
quainted with bill transactions, but sensitive to 
everything that might impeach my credit, I has- 
tened to Albemarle Street and paid the money, 
explaining that I had remained at home all the 
preceding day. The clerk's excuse was that Bur- 
ton Street was too far out of town, and he had not 
time. 

Mr. Murray became popular, successful, and 
much respected, not only by some of the most 
talented and eminent authors of his time, but by 
many of the nobility. His Uberality to the liter- 
ati, his tact in business and general information, 
were frequently exhibited in his correspondence 
with the parties above named, and many other dis- 
tinguished writers. At the social and friendly 
board, both at home and abroad, he manifested 
engaging conversational powers; and it has been 
my good fortune to have been repeatedly amused 
and informed by him, in company with some of 
the bright literary planets which have appeared in, 
but have left, our hemisphere. In my library I 
often refer to some of those beautiful and valuable 
books which he has published, and honoured me 
with as presents. 

At No. 55, Fleet Street, William Hone had a 

q8 



FLEET STREET, ETC. 

small shop, in 1815, where he published 'The 
Traveller," a newspaper; also 'The Life of Eliza- 
beth Penning,'' who was hung for attempting to 
poison an idiot, though Hone's account of her life 
shows she was guiltless of the act. At this house 
appeared the first of his famed political pamphlets, 
which was graphically and effectively illustrated 
by his young and talented friend, the now eminent 
literary artist, George Cruikshank. Of this most 
witty, poignant, morally satiric and talented artist, 
an interesting biographical essay has been pre- 
served in 'The London Journal,'' November 20th, 
1847, from the fluent and discriminating pen ot 
Dr. R. Shelton Mackenzie, with a clever wood- 
cut portrait. This paper not only shows the reader 
the peculiar graphic merits of the highly-gifted 
artist, but gives a vivid review of the political and 
moral character of the age in which he lived and 
worked, and points out the merits and demerits of 
some of the most prominent actors on the stage. 
Hone and Cruikshank continued in association 
for many years, and had the bookseller fully 
profited by the counsels of the artist, he might 
have escaped State prosecutions, become a re- 
spectable and successful tradesman, and have 
lived to witness his friend's pre-eminence. Though 
they often differed in opinions on religious and 

99 



LITERARY LONDON. 

even political subjects, they remained in friendly 
attachment during the chequered life of Hone. I 
have often wished that the artist had given to the 
world a graphic and literary review of his own 
career and connections, and still hope he may be 
incited to execute it; for his pen and pencil are 
competent to produce one or two volumes of sur- 
passing and unparalleled interest. 

Hone very soon moved from Fleet Street to the 
Old Bailey, where, in conjunction with Cruik- 
shank, he produced successively and successfully 
^The Political House that Jack Built,'' ^^A Slap 
at Slop,'' and three ''Parodies on the Book of 
Common Prayer." The first of these pubHcations 
became so popular, that more than fifty editions 
were published, as appears by a volume now 
before me, entitled ''Hone's Popular Political 
Tracts: containing The House that Jack Built; 
Queen's Matrimonial Ladder; Right Divine of 
Kings to Govern Wrong; Political Showman; 
Man in the Moon; The Queen's Form of Prayer; 
A Slap at Slop,'' 8vo. with numerous cuts, for 
William Hone, 1820. The last pamphlet was a 
smart and smarting attack on Dr. Stoddart, and 
his daily paper, called "The New Times." But 
Hone's Parodies were the most noted, and the 
most successful in their results, though produc- 



FLEET STREET, ETC, 

tive of cruel and vindictive persecution and pros- 
ecution to the author. For printing and pubUsh- 
ing these, three several indictments for libels were 
tried against him, in the Court of King's Bench, 
on the 19th, 20th, and 21st of December, 1817. 
Justice Abbott presided on the first, and Lord El- 
lenborough on the second and third days. The 
strong political prejudices of the latter judge were 
well known, and became apparent on the trials;, 
but Hone, conducted his own defence, with a firm- 
ness, fortitude, and talent which astonished both 
his friends and foes. His addresses to the jury, 
as stated in a note in the printed report of the 
trials, lasted, ''on the first day, six hours, on the 
second, seven, and on the third, upwards of eight 
hours;'' yet he was in a bad state of health, op- 
pressed and depressed, and manifested much 
physical exhaustion. Still he was clear, close, res- 
olute, and self-confident, and was listened to with 
intense interest by the court, but with evident 
signs of mortification by the judge. The result 
was an acquittal upon each indictment. Rarely 
have there been criminal trials which excited more 
popular sympathy and curiosity during their prog- 
ress, or more general rejoicing in their termina- 
tion. The accused returned to his home in tri- 
umph, and a large public subscription was raised 



LITERARY LONDON. 

on his behalf. He had removed from his small 
shop in the Old Bailey to a large and expensive 
house on Ludgate Hill. Here he was followed, 
caressed, and praised by a succession of visitors — 
real, or affected friends, — amongst whom were 
some of the most popular members of opposition 
in the two Houses. A sum of nearly £4,000 was 
raised for him b}^ voluntary subscription. With 
such a vast fortime, to him, and living and faring 
sumptuously every day, he had neither time nor 
incentive to write, or attend to shop business. The 
consequence was natural. The down-hill road 
from affluence to poverty is often travelled with 
special-train velocity, and terminates in the 
''slough of despond.'^ Such -was the case with 
our once-fortunate, but many times unfortunate, 
political and poetical hero; for a short time his 
affairs were involved in the labyrinth of bank- 
ruptcy; and ruin, irretrieveable ruin, ensued, from 
which he never became released. In February, 
1834, he appealed to the Literary Fund for aid, 
when he intreated my intercession in his behalt, 
in a letter, wherein he says: 'T am too much en- 
feebled to move about, and my family is in great 
distress, and I am worried out by little claims 
upon me, and have not a shilling.'' The Commit- 
tee of that noble institution inquired into his case 



FLEET STREET, ETC, 

and character, and finding the first to be urgent, 
and the second to be more ''sinned against than 
sinning,'' awarded him a handsome grant. I knew 
him well, and respected him for warmth of heart, 
kindness of disposition, and strength of head; but 
he was most improvident and indiscreet in the 
management of money affairs. Had these been 
placed in the charge of an honest, good account- 
ant, William Hone might have lived to be a rich 
man, and died a happy one. His later publica- 
tions were useful and valuable, as calculated to 
combine amusing with good historical, topo- 
graphical, and antiquarian information. They 
were 'The Every-Day Book,'' "The Year Book," 
'The Table Book,''' and "Ancient Mysteries." 
Never, perhaps, was political and personal satire, 
irony, ridicule, burlesque, caricature, sarcasm, and 
unflinching temerity of language and graphic 
representation carried to such a pitch as in his 
once-popular pamphlets, which, with the exalted 
and illustrious personages represented and ridi- 
culed, are now scarcely to be descried in the haze 
of distance. Had there not been gross delin- 
quency and bad conduct in the parties satirized, 
and also palpable originality and talent in the au- 
thor and the artist, these publications would not 
have attained their surprising and unprecedented 
popularity. 



LITERARY LONDON, 



The Poets' Gallery, 192, Fleet Street, was a 
place of much distinction at the end of the last 
century and beginning of the present. Thomas 
Macklin, its proprietor, was a publisher and print- 
seller, and besides using the Gallery for tempo- 
rary exhibitions, continued to keep on view a suc- 
cession of works of art; amongst which was the 
popular picture of 'The Woodman,'' by Thomas 
Barker, of Bath. Many of these were painted by 
the most eminent English artists for the splendid 
''Bible,'' which he published. This was produced 
in rivalry of Boydell's magnificent "'Shakspeare'' 
and Bowyer's "England.'' These contemporary 
publications surpassed all literary works either of 
this or any other country; as comprising and dis- 
playing the finest examples of paper and typogra- 
phy, with the highest specimens of the fine arts 
of England. Herein Bowyer, Boydell, and Mack- 
lin did more to benefit art, and the sciences con- 
nected with printing, than had ever before been 
done, or perhaps will be effected, by any trium- 
virate of tradesmen. Macklin died at the early age 
of 43, in Oct. 1800. The Gallery has since been 
occupied as an auction-room. 

The old-established bookselling firm of Benja- 
min and John White, at No. 63, Fleet Street, was 
amongst the most respectable of the class in Lon- 



FLEET STREET, ETC. 

don fifty years ago. Its stock was large and of 
the best books. '1 hey pubHshed some fine works 
in Natural History; amongst which were those of 
Pennant, Latham, and White, of Selborne. The 
last was a relation to the booksellers, as acknowl- 
edged by John, who edited the collected edition 
of his works in 2 vols. 8vo. 1802, in which is a very 
brief notice of that most amusing and amiable au- 
thor. The last of the Whites of Fleet Street joined 
in partnership with J. G. Cochrane. 

The once-noted and eminently-notorious Wil- 
liam Cobbett issued many of his remarkable 
'Weekly Registers'^ from an office in this street, 
and, for several years afterwards, from his print- 
ing establishment in Bolt Court, where most of his 
voluminous publications on history, politics, trav- 
els, grammar, &c., were produced. In the annals 
of the human race, and particularly amongst its 
remarkable men, Cobbett appears conspicuous, if 
not pre-eminent. Emerging from the humblest of 
peasant society, without education, and struggling 
against many difficulties and privations, he ad- 
vanced himself to high political and national dis- 
tinction, obtaining a seat in the British Parliament, 
and writing several volumes, which secured great 
celebrity for some years, and which will be read 
with surprise and gratification in future ages. His 



LITERARY LONDON, 

works are numerous, very voluminous, and on va- 
rious subjects. Amongst them is a copious, and 
apparently very candid Auto-Biography, which de- 
tails a pretty faithful account of his public career 
and writings. But I would more particularly di- 
rect the young reader to 'The Life of Wilham 
Cobbett,'^ a small thick volume in i8mo., of which 
the third edition appeared in 1835, extending to 
422 pages. This is dedicated 'To the Sons of Wil- 
liam Cobbett," and contains apparently a fair, dis- 
criminating account of the man, the author, and 
the politician. It also reprints the opinions and 
criticisms of Wm. Hazlitt, Gififord in the ''Stand- 
ard,'' and others from the ''Morning Chronicle," 
the "Times,'' and the "Atlas.'' Charles Knight 
has recorded his opinions and remarks on Cob- 
bett, in the "History of England during the Thirty 
Years' Peace,'' vol. i. p. 48. 

At 186, Fleet Street, was the shop of the Eton 
School Books, for many years conducted by Ed- 
ward Williams, grandson of Joseph Pote, the his- 
torian of Windsor. He was one of the Court As- 
istants of the Stationers' Company for the last five 
or six years of his life, and proved himself an ac- 
tive and zealous member of that famed corpora- 
tion. He was also active in the committee of the 

Literary Fund, and there, as well as in public and 

106 



FLEET STREET, ETC, 

private life, manifested general benevolence, suav- 
ity of manners, true philanthropy, and those so- 
cial, amiable traits of disposition, which conciliate 
all associates. Hence his company was generally 
courted. To a natural cheerfulness of temper he 
added the happy qualification of writing and sing- 
ing songs, appropriate to times, persons, and 
places. In Jan. 1838, as he was walking in one of 
the streets of London, near the Haymarket, he 
fell on an ice slide, and received such serious in- 
jury as occasioned his speedy death. His eldest 
son, Edward Pote Williams, has succeeded him 
both in London and at Eton. 

"The John Bull,'' weekly newspaper, has been 
printed and published at No. 40 Fleet Street, ever 
since its commencement in Dec. 1820. If not pro- 
jected and edited at first by the celebrated Theo- 
dore Hook, it is generally known that he was inti- 
mately connected with it for many years, and that 
he wrote many of its highly poignant articles. 
Conservative and of high church principles, it has 
continued an unflinching course of advocating 
these two branches of the government, and to cen- 
sure and ridicule all classes of society, and all de- 
partments of politicians of opposite opinions. The 
eminently witty, and as eminently reckless, editor 

soon rendered it popular and profitable to the pro- 

107 



LITERARY LONDON. 

prietors, and to himself, by the severity of its poHt- 
ical articles, and by the poignant wit and satire of 
its personal and literary essays. It is said that he 
derived at least £2000 a year from writings in this 
journal; at the same tim.e he was in receipt of near- 
ly as much more for novels, farces, &c. : yet he 
was often in debt and embarrassment. Never, per- 
haps, was there a man of such precocious and ver- 
satile talents. "As a wit, confessed without rival 
to shine," his company was courted, and he was 
incessantly flattered by princes, nobles, and the 
most noted in the world of fashion and of fame. 
As a writer of novels, farces, songs, and particular- 
ly in improvisation, he was, perhaps, unrivalled in 
the world of genius. Having been several times 
in his fascinating company, I can bear witness to 
these qualifications: when in contact and compe- 
tition with the famed authors of 'The Rejected Ad- 
dresses," he seemed to shine with additional bril- 
liancy. Yet this man, this accomplished wit and 
novelist, was imprisoned and degraded for disrep- 
utable neglect of his duties in a public government 
office, in v.diich he w^as misplaced by political 
friends. His story and his leading characteristics 
are well described m the last volume of Knight's 
'Tenny Cyclopaedia." 

"The Dispatch,'' of 139, Fleet Street, a weekly 

108 



FLEET STREET, ETC, 

newspaper diametrically opposed to the ''}o\\w 
Bull," has continued to have a popular and pros- 
perous career from 1818 to the present time. Be- 
sides a copious amount of political matter and gen- 
eral news, this journal has long been noted for its 
smart reviews of literary works, the fine arts, the 
drama, and the theatres. For some years my re- 
spected friend, Edward Dubois, contributed nu- 
merous 'witty articles on those subjects. 

At No. 93 in this street, 'The London Maga- 
zine" was published, by Taylor and Hessey, from 
Midsummer 1821 to the same month in 1825. It 
was edited by Mr. Taylor, who made the work 
highly popular, with the aid of such men as Henry 
Southern (now our Ambassador at Brazil), J. H. 
Reynolds, Thos. Hood, Chas. Lamb, the Rev. H. 
F. Gary, Allan Cunningham, Barry Cornwall, 
Charles Phillips, Horace Smith, Charles A. Elton, 
Thomas De Quincy, Wm. Hazlitt, Bernard Bar- 
ton, J. Clare, the Rev. G. Groly, Hartley Coleridge, 
Dr. Bowring, Thomas Garlyle, and other similar 
writers. With such a phalanx of wits and literati 
(now nearly all dead), it is not surprising that this 
periodical was very popular. In 1827, these pub- 
lishers sold the magazine to a new editor and pro- 
prietor. They published some works of older and 

eminent authors, under careful editorial superin- 

109 



LITERARY LONDON. 

tendence, and embellished from clever designs by 
Hilton, who was then coming into notice, and who 
attained just honours as an artist of the higher 
class. Taylor and Hessey brought out several suc- 
cessful books by the amiable moral writers, Mrs. 
and Miss Jane Taylor, of Ongar (no relatives of 
the publisher), and also other works. They after- 
wards removed to Waterloo Place, and on the es- 
tablishment of the London University, Mr. Taylor 
was appointed its bookseller, which induced him 
to settle in Upper Gower Street, where he has con- 
tinued in co-operation with Mr. Walton to the 
present time. He is author of a well-written vol- 
ume on the controverted and never-ending dispute 
as to the authorship of Junius's Letters, in which 
he endeavours to prove that Sir Philip Francis was 
the writer; but of which evidence I cannot admit 
the validity. In a learned volume, 'The Emphatic 
New Testament,'' and other works on scriptural 
criticism, and in several pamphlets on currency, 
Mr. Taylor displays much erudition and acute log- 
ical argument. 

Arthur Collins, called by Watt C'Bib. Brit.'O 
''the laborious antiquary and heraldic writer," who 
was editor and publisher, if not author, of the first 
edition of the English Peerage, in 1700, then lived 
at the Black Boy, in Fleet Street. Edward Curll 



PLEET STREET, ETC. 

published several books "at the Dial and Bible, St. 
Dunstan's Church." Bernard Lintot was living 
here at the beginning of the last century; and the 
amiable Izaak Walton was a denizen of this dis- 
trict. The first edition of his ''Angler" was pub- 
lished in 1653, in St. Dunstan's Churchyard, price 
IS. 6d. — (A copy sold at Haworth's sale for thir- 
teen guineas.) 

Michael Drayton, the poet, died in a house 
near Saint Dunstan's Church, according to Aubrey. 
The same authority tells us that Cowley, the more 
voluminous author, was the son of a grocer in this 
street. T. Snelling, who drew, engraved, and 
published numerous plates on English Coins, had 
a shop in this street, where he dealt in those, in 
medals, &c. 

Branching off from Fleet Street, to the south, is 
Eouverie Street, at the bottom of which my once 
much-esteemed and confidential friend, James 
Moyes, built large premises for a printing estab- 
lishment, after the destruction, by fire, of his for- 
mer offices in Greville Street. Here he produced 
numerous literary works for different publishers, 
also some for private friends, and was in an ex- 
tended and respectable way of business, when the 
severe commercial panic of 1826 involved him, 
with several of his friends, in bankruptcy. The 



LITERARY LONDON, 

shock was much more severe to his susceptible 
nerves, and high sense of honor, than the former 
calamity. His mental and corporeal faculties 
seemed paralyzed for some weeks, and his friends 
were alarmed; but rallying, and aided by a few- 
gentlemen who knew his integrity of principle and 
moral worth, he took new premises in Castle 
Street, Leicester Square, where he progressively 
obtained a large amount of business, and was pros- 
perous and happy, until death arrested his career 
in 1838, at the age of 59. He was interred in a 
vault in the cemetery of Kensal Green, where a 
marble slab is placed to his memory. Intimately 
acquainted with this honourable tradesman for a 
quarter of a century, I can conscientiously assert 
that he fully deserved the encomium Pope applies 
to "the noblest work of God" — an honest man. I 
never knew a person more widely and uniformly 
esteemed. In business, he actively and zealously 
endeavoured to secure the confidence and good 
opinion of every employer; and, I believe, was al- 
ways successful. As a man, he was well informed, 
upright, kind-hearted ,and generous both in word 
and deed, and as completely exempt from the in- 
firmities of poor human nature as any of his spe- 
cies. With such qualities, and a thorough knowl- 
edge of business, he must have attained a good for- 
tune in a few years. 



FLEET STREET, ETC, 

He printed different literary works for me, en- 
tirely to my satisfaction and to his own credit. Be- 
sides being employed by many respectable pub- 
lishers, he printed "The Literary Gazette" and 
"Eraser's Magazine'' for many years; also sev- 
eral successive volumes of "The Gems of Beauty," 
"Friendship's Offering," and other works, under 
the editorship of Lady Blessington. He also 
worked for the "Admiralty" and for other public 
offices; and produced two handsome and beauti- 
fully printed books for J. H. Wiffin, of "Jerusalem 
Delivered," and "Historical Memoirs of the House 
of Russell,'^ in two vols, royal octavo. This led to 
a connection with John, Duke of Bedford, for 
whom Mr. Moyes printed different w^orks, on the 
pictures, statues, grasses, ferns, &c., at Woburn 
Abbey. I have now before me letters from this 
truly generous nobleman, also from Lady Bless- 
ington, Mr. Wiffin, and others, expressing appro- 
bation of his works, and thanking him for skill and 
kind attentions. Though I have been acquainted 
with several Quakers, I never met with one who 
was more sincere, candid, warm-hearted, and un- 
sophisticated than Mr. Wiffin. He united with 
these qualifications the susceptibility of the poet 
with the perseverance and discrimination of the 
faithful historian. His "Memoirs of the House 

"3 



LITERARY LONDON. 

of Russell/' which were printed by Mr. Moyes 
in 1832, will justify these remarks, and will derive 
further confirmation by his translation of Tasso's 
''Jerusalem Delivered," with a series of beautifully- 
executed engravings in wood, also in two smaller 
volumes. He produced a volume of Miscellane- 
ous Poems, under the title of ''Aonian Hours,'' and 
other poetry. Mr. Wiffin was Librarian to John, 
Duke of Bedford, in which honourable office he 
died, in May 1836, in the prime of life, much be- 
loved by all who knew him. A well-written ac- 
count of his personal and literary character is pre- 
served in the ''Literary Gazette,'' May 1836. He 
has been succeeded by John Martin, formerly in 
partnership with Mr. Ro dwell, of Bond Street, and 
who, in 1834, published "A Bibliographical Cata- 
logue of Privately-printed Books," a handsome 
and curious volume. 

In Bolt Court was the printing-office of Thomas 
Bensley, which attained marked distinction at the 
end of the last century and beginning of the pres- 
ent. It was here that Mr. Konig's printing ma- 
chinery was first employed, and advanced towards 
perfection; and from this office issued, in 1797, a 
magnificent royal folio edition of Thomson's "Sea- 
sons." Here also were printed Macklin's Bible 
and many other fine books; likewise my (Brit- 



FLEET STREET, ETC, 

ton's) fourth volume of ''Architectural Antiqui- 
ties/' and the ''History of RedcUffe Church." These 
premises, Hke too many other printing-ofifices of 
London, suffered by fire : first, on the fifth of No- 
vember, 1807, when they were much damaged, 
with several works, by a fire supposed to have been 
occasioned by careless boys. Again, June 1819, 
the whole, with their valuable contents, were con- 
sumed in or materially injured by another con- 
flagration. 

"Red Lion Passage," at the end of the last cen- 
tury and beginning of the present, was familia'r 
to a large class of readers of the "Gentleman's 
Magazine,'' and to every topographer and anti- 
quary in England, by the spacious printing-office 
of John Nichols; and the many publications issu- 
ing therefrom. This veteran, respectable, and 
truly valuable periodical ("Gentleman's Maga- 
zine") has continued its monthly course from 1731 
to the present time ; and it is a singular part of its 
history that it was commenced by a journeyman 
printer, and for ninety-six years was continued un- 
der the editorship of three. In accordance with 
the spirit of the times, this venerable journal has 
now all the freshness, vigour, beauty and interest, 
which good writing, paper, and typography can 
impart. I was indulged by my venerated and kind 

"5 



LITERARY LONDON, 

friend, the "Deputy of Farringdon Ward," with 
the use of any books in his valuable topographical 
library, but none were to be taken away; for he 
justly remarked, these were his working-tools al- 
most in daily demand. I found them invaluable to 
me at a time when my own stock was very small — 
when the reading-room of the British Museum was 
not easily accessible, and when I had engaged to 
write and print 'The Beauties of Wiltshire;" and 
also, in conjunction with my literary coadjutor, 
Mr. Brayley, 'Topographical Accounts of Bed- 
fordshire, Berkshire, and Buckinghamshire," for 
the first volume of 'The Beauties of England." 
This courtesy, however, proved of great benefit, as 
was also the personal intercourse and converse 
with the author of the "History of Leicestershire,^' 
in eight folio volumes, his valuable "Literary An- 
ecdotes," in nine volumes, with two of indexes, 
and of other similar works. Here I occasionally 
saw Richard Gough, who was a frequent visitor; 
and here I also had glances of other eminent topo- 
graphers and antiquaries, who employed the same 
respected printer and author. Some years after- 
wards, I was honoured and gratified by friendly 
intimacy with most of the personages to whom I 
then looked up with awful respect and admiration. 
They are all removed from this terrestrial sphere, 

ii6 



FLEET STREET, ETC, 

but have left their names, and varied quahfica- 
tions, indeUbly recorded in the lasting pages of 
their respective publications. With Mr. Nichols, 
I continued on friendly terms from the end of the 
last century to the time of his death, Nov. 26, 1826. 
By a fall in Red Lion Passage, in January 1807, 
he fractured a thigh-bone, by which he was lamed 
for Hfe; and in February of the following year he 
suffered severely from a calamitous fire, which de;- 
stroyed his premises, and a large stock of paper, 
printed books, manuscripts, &c. At the time of 
my early communion with Mr. Nichols, his son 
John Bowyer, was taken into partnership, and con- 
tinued so for nearly a quarter of a century. In 
such an office and its associations, it is not surpris- 
ing that he became an antiquary and topographer 
as well as printer; and that his son, John Gough, 
should be one of the mose devoted, zealous, and 
learned amongst the present numerous class of 
archaeologists. 

A. J. Valpy, M.A., a son of the learned Dr. Val- 
py, of Reading School, after being a short time in 
Tooke's Court, removed to the more spacious of- 
fices vacated by Mr. Nichols, in which he execut- 
ed, besides many other works, ^The Delphin 
Classics,'^ with the Variorum Notes. These ex- 
tended to 141 volumes, which were charged i8s. 

117 



LITERARY LONDON, 

each, and in large paper, £i. i6s. He also printed, 
for different publishers, many other books, both 
in Greek and Latin, and not only employed some 
of the most learned compositors that could be ob- 
tained, but several scholars from the Universities, 
to read and correct the proof-sheets. Hence the 
Valpy office and press obtained high distinction in 
the learned world. Mr. Valpy retired from busi- 
ness in the prime of life, to enjoy ''otium cum dig- 
nitate." 

Nearly opposite to the printing-offfce last re- 
ferred to was a small house occupied by Stephen 
Jones, a gentleman with whom I was on familiar 
terms for many years. He was Secretary to a Free- 
masons' lodge, and was occasionally employed by 
some of the publishers to edit and arrange miscel- 
laneous papers, make indexes, &c. He first ap- 
peared, in 1 79 1 , as abridging Burke's ''Reflections ;'' 
and two years afterwards his name was attached to 
an Abridgment of Ward's ''Natural History,'' in 3 
vols. In 1796 he produced "A Biographical Dic- 
tionary in Miniature,'' a copy of which he present- 
ed me, with his autograph: the first literary work 
I had then received, though I can now enumer- 
ate more than sixty volumes. He produced sev- 
eral other publications, which are specified in 

Watt's "Bibliotheca Britannica,'' the last of which 

118 



FLEET STREET, ETC, 

is "A Pronouncing Dictionary of the English Lan- 
guage," a large octavo volume. The third edition 
of the work, now before me, has the author's auto- 
graph, with the date of 1798. He also edited a 
new edition of the "Biographia Dramatical' this 
was harshly criticised, when he published a pam- 
phlet, entitled ''Hypercriticism Exposed, in a Let- 
ter to the Readers of the Quarterly Review," 8vo. 
1812. 

Towards the end of his life, my respected friend, 
a man of mild disposition, strict honesty, great in- 
dustry, and unblemished character, was embar- 
rassed in circumstances, applied to, and derived 
pecuniary aid from, the Literary Fund. Dr. N. 
Drake, in a letter to Cadell and Davies, respecting 
his large work, ''Shakspeare and His Times," says, 
''S. Jones was the compositor to my Essays on 
Periodical Literature, and I was perfectly satisfied 
with his accuracy and attention;" whence he 
strongly recommended him to those publishers 
to make the index to his two quarto volumes. It 
extends to six quarto sheets. 

In New Street and New Street Square are the 
large and famed printing-offices of Strahan, "the 
King's Printer," who obtained great wealth, and at 
whose presses an immense number of books have 

been printed. Among these was the ''Cyclopse- 

119 



LITERARY LONDON. 

dia/' edited by my early and much-loved friend, 
Dr. A. Rees, and for which I wrote many a colse- 
ly-packed page. Besides accounts of nearly all the 
cities, towns, and counties of England, Wales, and 
Scotland, I wrote separate articles on Avebury and 
Stonehenge, with illustrative prints, and a memoir 
of Shakspeare. With copy and proofs I had fre- 
quent communication with one of the offices, for 
there were several, and witnessed the order, dis- 
cipline, and admirable system which prevailed. 
1 he liberality and riches of Andrew Strahan, Esq., 
who died in August 1831, render his name illus- 
trious in the annals of man. In 1822, he presented 
£1000 to the Literary Fund, and bequeathed a 
similar sum after his decease, in the year 1831. 
He also gave other large sums to different charita- 
ble societies. He died, in the 83rd year of his age, 
at the house in New Street, leaving property to the 
amount of above one million of money; and pre- 
sented his great printing establishment to his 
nephew, Andrew Spottiswoode, who married one 
of the daughters of Mr. T. N. Longman, of Pater- 
noster Row. 

In Chancery Lane, north of Fleet Street, was a 
shop which William Pickering gave name and 
note to by publishing many valuable volumes un- 
der the titles of ''Aldine Edition of the Poets ;'^ 



FLEET STREET, ETC. 

''Walton and Cotton's Angler," and other books 
on the subject; Richardson's Dictionaries of the 
English Language; Greek, Latin, Italian, and Dia- 
mond Classics; and several works on Ecclesiasti- 
cal, Biblical, and Polemical History; on Anglo- 
Saxon and Anglo-Norman Literature; ''Small 
Books on Great Subjects, by Well- Wishers to 
Knowledge;'' and last, though not least in merit 
and popularity, the novel, unique, and original 
"Bridgewater Treatises," in 12 volumes. These 
were by Sir Charles Bell, on the "Hand;" the Rev. 
William Buckland, D.D., on "Geology and Min- 
eralogy;" the Rev. Thomas Chalmers, D.D., on 
the "Moral and Intellectual Constitution of Man;" 
John Kidd, M. D., on the "Physical Condition 
of Man;" the Rev. William Kirby, on the "His- 
tory, Habits, and Instincts of Animals;" William 
Prout, M. D., on "Chemistry, Meteorology, and 
the Function of Digestion;" P. M. Roget, M. D., on 
"Animal and Vegetable Physiology;" and the Rev. 
W. Whewell, on "Astronomy and General Phys- 
ics." 

These Essays were written by the respective 
learned authors, in compliance with a bequest of 
Francis Henry, Earl of Bridgewater, in February 
1829, of £8000. to be paid for eight Treatises "On 
the Power, Wisdom, and Goodness of God, as 



LITERARY LONDON. 

manifested in the Creation.'' Never, perhaps, in 
the annals of the human race, and of testamentary 
generosity and rightful application, was a legacy 
more wisely and laudably given. It was Mr. Pick- 
ering's good fortune to be selected as the publisher 
of the series, whence his house and character were 
prominently brought under the notice of the read- 
ing world. In 1843 he removed to 177, Piccadilly, 
where may be seen a house full of rare and valua- 
ble books, and where may be obtained many of 
those he had printed and published, under the edi- 
torial care, learning, and ability of Sir Harris 
Nicolas, Basil Montagu, the Rev. W. L. Bowles, 
S. W. vSinger, the Rev. Alexander Dyce, the Rev. 
J. Mitford, J. H. Marsden, Thomas Wright, Rob- 
ert Roscoe, George Daniel, W. Tooke, the Rev. 
Dr. T. F. Dibdin, and many other authors of emi- 
nence. 

Let us look at a 'Ten and Ink Sketch" of Mr. 
Pickering by the last-named reverend gentleman, 
in his own peculiar style of touch and efifect. "How 
does Mr. Pickering this morning? and where are 
the Caxtons, and Wynkyns, and Pynsons — his Al- 
duses, Elzevirs, and Michel Le Noirs? But Mr. 
Pickering has a note of louder triumph to sound, 
in being publisher of the 'Bridgewater Treatises/ 
which bid fair to traverse the whole civilized por- 
tion of the globe." — (Reminiscences, p. 904.) 



FLEET STREET, ETC, 

From Chancery Lane to High Holborn is a 
mere step, and there, at No. 59, is a house, which 
was built by Josiah Taylor, the Architectural 
Bookseller, with whom I (Britton) became ac- 
quainted at the early part of my literary career, 
and with whom I fortunately continued on inti- 
mate terms to the time of his lamented death, Jan- 
uary, 1834. In 1805, I showed him some drawings 
of ancient buildings which Mr. Hood thought were 
not calculated to adorn the pages, and come under 
the title, of 'The Beauties of England.'' After a 
little consultation and deliberation, it was agreed 
to publish a new quarto work, entitled 'The Arch- 
itectural Antiquities of Great Britain.'' A plan was 
digested, a prospectus was written, Longman and 
Co. engaged to take a third share in the work, 
and be the publishers. Hence originated a pub- 
lication, which not only extended to five quarto 
volumes, and brought before the public 360 en- 
gravings, representing a great variety of old build- 
ings of the country, but many of historical, de- 
scriptive, and critical essays. These were not by 
my own pen only, but by those of several gentle- 
men, who thus laid before the reading world much 
original and interesting information. This work, 
indeed, gave origin to a new school of artists, both 

draftsmen and engravers, and to many competing 

123 



LITERARY LONDON, 

and rival publications. It obtained great popu- 
larity, and was consequently profitable to the pub- 
lishers and to the author. Had the latter been a 
little more the man of business, and more anxious 
to obtain wealth than fame, he might have been 
enabled to retire from the labours and anxieties 
of authorship at the age of eighty, with compe- 
tence to provide all the comforts, and even some 
of the luxuries of Hfe. His chief solicitude and am- 
bition, throughtout the whole extent of that and 
other publications, have been to render them 
truthful, original, correct, and replete with the 
best artistic illustrations and literary information 
which he could obtain and impart to the reader. 
His partners were confiding and kind, upon most 
occasions; and Mr. Taylor evinced his friendship 
by a posthumous bequest. Mr. O. Rees proved 
himself a warm and even affectionate friend 
throughout life. 

Mr. Taylor was a punctilious, preservering, and 
honourable man of business, and confined his at- 
tention, and publications almost exclusively to 
those devoted to architecture and engineering. 
Hence he became acquainted with most of the pro- 
fessional gentlemen of the kingdom, published for 
many of them, and was connected in business with 
nearly all. Thus we find that his catalogue of works 

124 



FLEET STREET, ETC, 

contains the following amongst other names : Stu- 
art and Revett, Soane, Malton, G. Richard- 
son, Peter Nicholson, Lugars, Gwilt, Pocock, 
Dearn, Gandy, Aikin, Plaw; and the following on 
''Gothic Architecture,'^ the Rev. G. D. Whittington, 
the Rev. J. Milner, the Rev. James Dallaway, the 
Rev. Joseph Warton, James Bentham, Captain 
Grose, the Rev. J. Gunn, the Rev. George Millers, 
and J. S. Hawkins. The Essays, by Milner, War- 
ton, Bentham, and Grose, were published by Mr. 
Taylor in a separate volume, which went through 
three editions. 

Towards the latter part of his life he purchased 
a good house at Stockwell, where he was in the 
habit of assembling frequently a succession of 
friends around his social board; and there I have 
often met, and enjoyed the converse of, some of 
the most eminent architects and engineers of Lon- 
don. On those occasions it was his practice to 
send a carriage to and from London to convey 
two, three, or four gentlemen who did not keep 
carriages. In the year 1822 the house and shop, 
in Holborn, with their contents, were consumed 
by an accidental fire, whereby I sustained a con- 
siderable loss. Mr. Taylor died at the age of 73, 
in the year 1834, and was buried in Bunhill Fields 
cemetery. 

125 



LITERARY LONDON. 

''Readings and Music'' were popular sources of 
amusement in London, about fifty years back; 
and I not only exhibited myself at the place de- 
scribed, but at a large room in Foster Lane, in an- 
other at the Globe, Fleet Street, and, lastly, in two 
others at the Freemasons' Hall, and in the Argyle 
Rooms. These societies assumed pompous 
Greek names — ''Museodeans," and ''Odechorolo- 
geans," — with parade and much etiquette, in aping 
the operatic customs and manners of theatric 
and ball-room concerts. The large rooms at both 
places were crowded with company, every night 
of performing; and amongst the performers were 
Miss Brunton, Miss F. Kelly, Miss S. Booth, Miss 
Bolton, &c. 




126 



Ipart III. 



THE STRAND, PALL MALL, 
KING STREET 




part III. 



THE STRAND, PALL MALL, 
KING STREET. 

The Strand at the beginning of the Century— Thomas Caddell— The 
Newspaper Press — George Lane — D. Stuart — John Bell — Rudolph 
Ackermann and his publications— F. Shoberl, Author and Editor — 
Annuals — ,,Dr. Syntax"— Combe— Rowlandson— John and Leigh Hunt 
— The Literary Gazette — Richardson's Auctions — Geographers — Prince 
Sanders — Lyceum Theatre— Auctioneers — The Sothebys— Evans — 
The Christies' Sale-Rooms — Pall Mall— King Street— Covent Garden 
— Hogarth's Election — P. Luckombe— King and Lochee's Auction 
Rooms ; their book-sales. 

^ HE STRAND, at the end of the last century 
^^ and beginning of the present, when a much 
narrower street than it is now, and when Exeter 
'Change occupied a large area of the road-way be- 
tween the present Lyceum Theatre and Exeter 
Street, contained several booksellers and publish- 
ers of distinction. Amongst these was the house 
of Alderman Thomas Cadell, which occupied the 

site of old Jacob Tonson's (the Shakspeare Head). 

129 



LITERARY LONDON, 

Andrew Miller, a friend of Thomson, Fielding, 
Hume, Robertson, was the master of Alderman 
Cadell. 

At the period to which my notes chiefly relate, 
Alderman Thomas Cadell was living in the Strand, 
and I had the pleasure of being occasionally in 
his society. He resigned the business to his Son 
and to William Davies, jointly, who long traded 
under the well-known firm of ''Cadell and Davies." 
The Alderman was accustomed to say that he was 
chiefly indebted for his prosperity to the works of 
four ''Bees,' alluding to four popular publications: 
"Blair's Sermons," "Blackstone's Commentaries," 
"Burn's Justice of the Peace," and "Buchan's Do- 
mestic Medicine.'' Johnson's "Dictionary," and 
Hume and Smollett's "History of England," were 
also amongst the valuable copyrights belonging to 
this firm. In reference to the two publications last- 
mentioned, this establishment, in conjunction 
with Longman and Co., who were part proprie- 
tors with them in those and other works, had to 
encounter a vigorous opposition from other book- 
sellers when the copyrights expired; but their op- 
erations were so judiciously and promptly con- 
ducted that they effectually maintained their 
ground. The "Dictionary'' had been published 
in two costly volumes, folio; and when the copy- 

130 



FLEET STREET, ETC, 

right was about to expire, an edition in one folio 
volume was prepared, with great secrecy, by a 
bookseller in Paternoster Row. The proprietors 
of the book hearing of that scheme, prepared an 
edition in two quarto volumes, which, being of a 
more commodious form, at once became a popular 
work, and obtained a rapid sale : whereas the rival 
undertaking involved the speculator in a serious 
loss. . The quarto edition, being published at £5. 
5s., produced a considerable profit to the share- 
holders, who were proportionably tenacious of 
maintaining its integrity. One of them, however, 
the managing partner, happening to say vaunting- 
ly in the presence of Mr. Childs, an energetic 
printer at Bungay, that the partners would ruin 
any one who set up a rival edition, he forthwith 
stereotyped and reprinted the entire work in a 
single volume, imperial 8vo. (now currently sold 
for 1 8s.) and employing that indefatigable and un- 
scrupulous agent, the late John Ogle Robinson, 
(formerly of the firm Robinson, Hurst, and Co.) a 
large and remunerative sale was speedily obtained, 
and the quarto was consequently much depre- 
ciated. 

The standard octavo edition of the ''History of 
England'^ was issued by Cadell and the Long- 
mans, in anticipation of opposition, in periodical 



LITERARY LONDON. 

numbers, embellished with portraits. Both Cooke 
and Parsons, nevertheless, entertained the project 
of duodecimo editions, without prints; but the pro- 
prietors forestalled them by a similar edition, with 
reduced copies of the engravings. The rival pub- 
lishers proceeded, however, with their respective 
undertakings, and so great was the sale of the 
works, that each edition reimbursed its expenses. 
By a volume of '^Autograph Letters and Papers," 
one of a series now before me, belonging to my 
friend, Mr. John Wodderspoon, I find that the 
above-named firm embarked a large capital, at 
great risk, on Dr. Drake's ^'Shakspeare and his 
Times ;''Lyson's ''Magna Britannica," and Sam- 
uels's "Britannia Romana;'' G. Chalmers's ''Cale- 
donia;" Alexander Chalmers's "British Poets," 21 
vols, royal 8vo. ; Coxe's Works, (mostly written by 
Henry Hatcher) Dr. Clarke's Travels, and several 
other expensive publications. By memoranda 
amongst this correspondence, it is also evident 
that they acted with much courtesy and liberality 
to those authors. Dr. Drake was paid £800 for 
his two volumes; and in a statement of accounts 
it seems that the losses were above £900. The 
works by the Lysonses entailed a great loss on the 
respectable publishers. , Hence we learn that, after 

their decease, a large stock of unsold books came 

132 



THE STRAND, ETC. 

into the market, and were dispersed at very low 
prices. 

Near the middle part of the ever-crowded, noisy, 
tumultuous thoroughfare called the Strand, is the 
very focus — ^the hot-bed, the forcing-house — of the 
"Newspaper-Press," now emphatically called "The 
Fourth Estate/' This literary manufactory and 
news-mart may be almost regarded as exemplify- 
ing the perpetual motion. From dawn to night, 
and thence to dawn again, here is a continued, 
never-ceasing succession of editors and sub-ed- 
itors, reporters of various topics, correspondents 
from foreign states, and from the provinces, mer- 
chants and manufacturers, politicians and players, 
compositors, pressmen, and engineers; also 
crowds of news-vendors and letter-carriers, with 
carts and horses to convey loads of wet Papers to 
railway stations. Could an inquiring and acute 
foreigner see and appreciate the whole working of 
this complicated machine, he would marvel, and 
vainly attempt to give a full and vivid account of 
it to his distant friends and countrymen. During 
the sitting of Parliament, and when warmly-con- 
tested party questions are under discussion, the 
activity and excitement in this region are only to 
be compared to a hive of bees, at the time of 
swarming. Unlike the generality of London busl- 



LITERARY LONDON, 

ness, that of the News-press is generally conducted 
during the night, and whilst most people are re- 
posing in bed. Hence we see the windows of the 
offices fully lighted up, and hear the continued rat- 
tle and noise of steam machines and presses in 
ceaseless operation. I cannot reflect on the com- 
parative and contrasted state of the Newspaper- 
press, in its mechanical and literary characteristics, 
as it was at the beginning of the century, when I 
was occasionally admitted into the editor's ^'sanc- 
tum,'^ and as it is now, when such important re- 
forms have been produced in all departments of 
paper, type, ink, and particularly in machinery; 
but still more in the independence and integrity, 
the vigour and comprehensiveness of editorial 
writings, without feeling astonished and delighted. 
It is these improvements and powers which have 
conspired to gain for the English Press the polit- 
ical title above-named. To the late James Perry, 
John Walter, Thomas Barnes, and a few other tal- 
ented and honest men, much of these effects are to 
be ascribed; and I indulge the hope that others 
of like powers may continue in the same ranks, 
and act as substantial checks against every species 
of tyranny and dishonesty in church and state, 
in law and commerce, and, indeed, in all grada- 
tions of civilized society. 



THE STRAND, ETC. 

At No. 15, back of St. Clement's, Strand, 'The 
British Press'' and 'The Globe" first made their 
public appearance in 1803, 'Svith new and high 
pretensions,'' and were ostensibly started by, and 
intended to promote the views and trading specu- 
lations of, the publishing booksellers. These had 
justly complained of the capricious charges made 
by the Newspaper proprietors for advertisements, 
and also for the heedless manner in which notices 
of fine and expensive literary publications were 
associated with vile and disgusting quack pufifs. 
To remedy such evils, and obtain a medium be- 
tween themselves and the public, they procured 
premises, type, an editor, and the combined es- 
tablishment for conducting a newspaper. George 
Lane was engaged as editor, who had been on the 
''Morning Post," and the "Courier," under Daniel 
Stuart. This gentleman wrote an explanation of 
the dispute between the publishers and newspaper 
proprietors in the "Gentleman's Magazine" (Sept. 
1838) to vindicate himself and his brothers of the 
periodical press, and impeach the former. Mr. 
George Lane, in the same magazine, published a 
reply and justification of the booksellers. Among 
the reforms and improvements which the present 
denizens of London have cause to rejoice in, when 
compared with their predecessors, who lived 

13s 



LITERARY LONDON, 

amidst and under numerous annoyances of sav- 
age warfare, may be specified the relief from ruth- 
less gangs of street news-vendors, who infested 
the peaceable and nervous inhabitants with noises 
that surpassed bedlamites broke loose. Tin horns, 
of different calibre and sounds, mixed with yells 
and bawling of men and boys, in troops, who pa- 
raded the quiet streets proclaiming, "News ! Great 
news! Bloody news! Armies slaughtered by thou- 
sands and tens of thousands: — 'CurriorM Extra- 
ordinary ^Currior' ! ! Sixth edition of 'The Cur- 
riorM!!&c, &c;' 

By examining some early numbers of the 
"British Press,'^ I cannot wonder that it failed to 
secure purchasers, and consequently did not an- 
swer the requirements of the speculators. Poor 
paper, bad printing, tasteless display, and ineffi- 
ciency of editorship, are conspicuous. Mr. Lane 
acknowledged that "the actual sale did not exceed 
two hundred." The "British Press" proved a com- 
plete failure, and it was given up. The "Globe'' 
was, however, continued, under new proprietary 
management, and is still among the diurnal jour- 
nals. 

John Bell, of the Strand. — Not only as an enter- 
prising and spirited publisher, but as an author, 

this gentleman continued before the public many 

136 



THE STRAND, ETC, 

years, and brought forward a succession of lit- 
erary and embellished works which gratified and 
gave profitable employ to numerous writers, ar- 
tists, printers, stationers, &c. His "British Poets," 
^'British Theatre," part of which includes the plays 
of Shakspeare; his ''Weekly Messenger,'^ com- 
menced May, 1796; the ''New Weekly Messen- 
ger,'' a paper of unprecedented quantity and va- 
ried literary matter, commenced in 1832; his "New 
Pantheon, or Historical Dictionary of Heathen 
Gods, Demi-Gods, Goddesses, &c.,'' which 
Lowndes calls "an excellent and useful compila- 
tion;'' and his "Classical Arrangement of Fugitive 
Poetry,'' in 18 vols., were each and all variously 
popular, and calculated to gratify and improve the 
minds and taste of readers by their literary and 
graphic contents. In embellishments, he em- 
ployed the best artists of the age, both for designs 
and for engravings. He also produced a monthly 
periodical called "La Belle Assembl^e." 

Rudolph Ackermann, from Germany, settled in 
the Strand, opposite okl Exeter 'Change, at the 
latter part of the last century, as a Printseller; and 
by perseverance, industry, and skill in business, 
with some knowledge of art, progressively ad- 
vanced himself and his establishment to the high- 
est degree of prosperity and credit. When I first 

137 



LITERARY LONDON. 

became acquainted with him, in 1800, his shop 
was small, and his first floor was let to my friend, 
George Holmes, an artist, who was induced by my 
suggestion to publish, in 1801, an octavo volume, 
''Sketches of a Tour through the South Part of 
Ireland/ The artist, though possessed of abilities 
and of very engaging manners, did not advance in 
life so fast as his landlord, who soon required and 
occupied the whole house, and increased his busi- 
ness, family, and fortune. He then moved to 
larger premises, at No. loi, Strand, which occu- 
pied part of the site of the old Fountain Tavern, 
celebrated in the days of Steele, Addison, Pope, 
&c. Here was also a famed drawing academy, 
in which Richard Cosway, F. Wheatley, Shipley, 
and others, afterwards men of fame, were pupils. 
The more noted lecture-room of John Thelwall 
present large and commodious ''Repository,'' at 
the corner of Beaufort Buildings, from the designs 
of Mr. Papworth. This building occupies the site 
of five previous houses. The new edifice was pro- 
vided with a fine and spacious gallery, at the rear, 
in which were constantly on view a vast number 
and variety of works of art. The architect also 
made many designs, and wrote essays for Acker- 
mann's Magazine. The shop, the staircase, the 

gallery, &c., were not only lighted but brilHantly 

138 



THE STRAND, ETC, 

illuminated by night, with gas, which was manu- 
factured on the premises, from apparatus which 
Mr. Ackermann had invented, and which was sup- 
plied with Canal, or Kennel coal, producing the 
most vivid light. During the first winter, after 
these works were completed, crowds of the nobil- 
ity, gentry, and artists, were in the habit of visiting 
the place every night, to see the splendid novel- 
ties. Once a week the proprietor opened Ms gal- 
leries for a Soiree, where I often met many of the 
most eminent artists and men of science of our 
own and of foreign countries. Amongst numer- 
ous interesting articles displayed on these occa- 
sions was a copy of the spirited proprietor's work 
on Westminster Abbey, printed on vellum and 
bound in two large volumes; one containing the 
letter-press, printed in Bensley's best manner, the 
other comprising proofs of the plates and the orig- 
inal drawings, also skilfully mounted. The bind- 
ing, of the most sumptuous kind, alone cost Mr. 
Ackermann nearly three hundred pounds! This 
very splendid work is now in the possession of 
John Allnut, Esq., of Clapham, whose gallery of 
pictures by English Artists not only reflects hon- 
our on his taste and liberality, but on his patridft- 
ism. 

This article alone serves to give some notion 
139 



LITERARY LONDON. 

of the liberal and enterprising disposition of the 
amiable and estimable German, who manifested a 
corresponding liberality and enthusiasm in all his 
business speculations and intercourse with artists 
and literati. Mr. Shoberl tells me that he paid Wil- 
liam Combe at least £400. a year for many succes- 
sive years, and that he was often a guest at his 
table; that he proved a friend to him during his 
last illness, and not only contributed towards, but 
waited on several of his rich friends to solicit aid 
in the expenses for the funeral, tomb, &c. 

To this improvident, indiscreet man, to T. Row- 
landson, to W. H. Pyne, and to several other per- 
sons, he was the warm and generous patron. In- 
deed in all his public dealings, as well as in private 
life, he displayed generosity, courtesy, frankness, 
sincerity, and unostentatious benevolence. After 
the disastrous, murderous, and devasting wars of 
the French Revolution, the Germans were reduced 
to the most distressing condition. Poverty and 
privation pervaded their towns, their villages, and 
their entire provinces. The English, as usual, af- 
forded many of the emigrants homes and susten- 
ance. To Mr. Ackermann they were indebted for 
a vast amount of aid and comfort. He took a most 
active and zealous part in obtaining subscriptions 

and remitting money to his countrymen. No less 

140 



■.^/ 



THE STRAND, ETC, 

than £250,000. were collected for the sufferers in 
Great Britain, £100,000. of which were voted by 
Parliament; and as a proof of the effective service 
of my friend on this occasion, he was rewarded 
and honoured by the King of Saxony with the 
Cross of Civil Merit; whilst the King of Prussia, 
and several of the reigning Dukes of Germany, 
presented him with handsome testimonials in 
token of his valuable services. 

As Cicerone to Mr. Ackermann's Gallery, my 
friend, William Henry Pyne, was engaged, and in 
that capacity was respectably and profitably em- 
ployed, both for himself and for his worthy master. 
The former had published, and progressively pro- 
duced numerous works, both graphic and literary, 
in all of which, from partialities and experience, 
Pyne became eminently useful. Hence the artist 
and the printseller worked in harmony and unison 
for some years, and jointly completed several pub- 
lications on the fine arts, topography, and poetry. 
Besides several lessons, elementary books and 
prints, for the instruction of young artists, they 
brought forward a large and expensive work, en- 
titled "The Microcosm of London,'' 3 vols, royal 
4to. with 120 illustrative prints. To Mr. Acker- 
mann we are indebted for the introduction into 

England, and for effecting many improvements in 

141 



LITERARY LONDON. 

the new art, of Lithography, by translating and 
giving pubHcity to Senefelder's Treatise on the 
subject; a work that excited much curiosity, spec- 
ulation, and experiments among the artists. He 
also imported stones for that novel process, and 
by adapting presses and paper, and by the employ- 
ment of competent artists to make drawings, pro- 
gressively, but slowly, advanced lithography to 
distinction. The following lines were written by 
Mr. Combe on the first lithograph stone which 
Mr. Ackermann printed, when he had prepared 
ever}''thing for working: 

" I have been told of one " But here we manage better; 

Who, being ask'd for bread, The Stone, we ask 

In its stead To do its task, 

Return'd a Stone: And it returns us every letter. 

*' Wm. Combe, January 23, 1817." 

He was the first publisher of a class of books, 
called "Annuals,'' by his "Forget-me-Not,'' which 
became exceedingly popular, and was a source of 
employ to numerous artists, authors, and different 
tradesmen. The ''Forget-me-Nof' was edited, 
from its commencement in 1823, to its last volume 
in 1834, by F. Shoberl, one of the most industri- 
ous, persevering, and honourable of the literary 
fraternity, who has been solely, or mostly, depend- 
ant on his profession for a livelihood. Watt, in 

"Bibliotheca Britannica,'' has given a long list of 

142 



THE STRAND, ETC, 

his publications, in translations from the French 
and German, original and compilations, from 1800 
to 1 814, since which year he has written a further 
and longer hst of works: amongst others I per- 
ceive that his name is attached to the histories of 
the counties of Suffolk, Surrey, and Sussex, form- 
ing one of the volumes of ''The Beauties of Eng- 
land/' 

A history of this literary family — ''the Annuals'' 
— would embrace much curious anecdote, biogra- 
phy, and exposition of art and artists; of profes- 
sional and amateur authors; of trade, manufac- 
tures, and commerce; of fashion, fame, and friv- 
olity; and last, though not the least, the fluctuation 
and caprices of taste and ton. The 'Annuals," 
which were so popular and profitable to a Heath, 
and a Fisher, twenty years ago, are now supersed- 
ed, and a totally different and new species has been 
introduced by Messrs. Longman and Co. and by 
Virtue; in which topography, history, travels, and 
substantial literature are the basis. 

His large and handsome volumes, with illustra- 
tions, of Westminster Abbey, of Cambridge, Ox- 
ford, and of Public Schools, were amongst the 
most beautiful topographical works of their class, 
in paper, typography, and embellishments. The 
writing, though anonymous, was by William 

143 



LITERARY LONDON. 

Combe, one of the most extraordinary men of his 
age, and who ranks amongst the most prolific of 
authors. 

Though I was never on intimate terms with this 
talented and eccentric person, I knew him person- 
ally by meeting him often at the houses of my 
friends, the Ackermanns, and James Lonsdale, 
portrait-painter of Berners Street Combe was of 
good family connection, had received a classical 
education at Eton and Oxford, and very early 
came into the possession of a large fortune, in 
ready money. To dash at once into high life, and 
enact the fashionable gentleman, he (according 
to his own narration) took a large mansion at ^^the 
West End" of London, furnished and filled it with 
gorgeous articles, and also hired servants, bought 
carriages, &c.; and successively assembled around 
him a crowd of sycophants and the ^^beau-monde." 
This comedy, or rather farce, lasted only for a 
short time, and it is said that from the commence- 
ment to the drop-scene of the ridiculous drama, 
was not more than one year. Though he fancied 
this gave him an insight into high life, it is quite 
evident that the company thus assembled, and thus 
held together, could only be of a class which 
ought to rank below the low — gamblers, swindlers^ 

tricksters, imposters, &c. The consequence was 

144 



THE STRAND, ETC, 

ruin — complete, disgraceful ruin, and Combe fled 
from his creditors and from society. We next 
hear of him as a common soldier, and recognized 
at a public-house with a volume of Greek poetry in 
his hand. He was relieved from this degrading 
situation, and henceforward, for a long period, 
the annals of his life have been pretty fully de- 
tailed. The walls of the King's Bench Prison, 
and "the Rules'' of that famed establishment, were 
the limits and sphere of his locomotion; and from 
his conduct, manners, and general deportment in 
society, they do not appear to have proved causes 
of much punishment or lamentation. Horace 
Smith, in the Memoirs of his witty and much-ca- 
ressed brother, James, says, that Colonel Greville, 
with several of his friends, established a Pic-nic 
club for theatrical amusements, &c., and published 
a newspaper to vindicate their association from 
severe strictures that appeared in the daily papers 
against them. Our imprisoned hero was appoint- 
ed the paid editor, and, to suit his peculiarity of sit- 
uation, the weekly meetings of the writers of ar- 
ticles were held after dark. Horace Smith, who 
knew Combe, justly remarks, that "a faithful bi- 
ography of this singular character might justly be 
entitled a romance of real Hfe ; so strange were the 
adventures and the freaks of fortune of which he 

145 



LITERARY LONDON, 

had been a participator and a victim. A ready 
writer of all-work for the booksellers, he passed all 
the latter portion of his time within 'the Rules/ to 
which suburban retreat the present writer was oc- 
casionally invited, and never left him without ad- 
miring his various acquirements, and the philoso- 
phical equanimity with which he endured his re- 
verses/^ Mr. Smith further asserts, that if there 
was a lack of matter occasionally to fill up the col- 
umns of their paper, "Combe would sit down in 
the publisher's back room and extemporize a let- 
ter from Sterne at Coxwold, a forgery so well exe- 
cuted that it never excited suspicion." I cannot 
but regret that my witty friend had not favoured 
us with more anecdotes of, and remarks on, the 
character and literary talents of Combe; but I can 
easily excuse him when I reflect on the supera- 
bundance of material which his memory and his 
memoranda must have afforded for the two amus- 
ing volumes he had planned of his brother's mem- 
orable ''sayings and doings.'' Were I disposed to 
dwell on the character of Combe, I could extend 
the present description to several pages. He was 
born in 1741, and died in June 1814. Subsequent 
to his death, a small volume was published, enti- 
tled "Letters to Marianne," said to have been writ- 
ten by him after the age of seventy to a young 

146 



THE STRAND, ETC. 

girl, and, according to the *' Literary Gazette,'^ are 
trivial, silly, puerile. However eventful and amus- 
ing may be the adventures and vicissitudes of such 
a man as Combe, if narrated by a Dickens, a 
Thackeray, or a Douglas Jerrold, I must resign 
the task to such vivid writers, or their followers, 
and merely refer to the "Gentleman's Magazine,^^ 
for May 1852, for a communication from my 
friend, Mr. R. Cole, who has a large collection of 
Autograph Letters and Manuscripts, amongst 
which is a detailed list of the literary works of, and 
numerous letters from and to Combe. 

The engravings of Westminster Abbey, of 
Cambridge, Oxford, and of the Public Schools 
were in aquatint, and coloured in imitation of the 
original drawings, by Mackenzie, Pugin, W. 
Westall, F. Nash, W. Turner, and others : many of 
them represent interior views of the principal pub- 
lic buildings. There are also prints of full-length 
portraits from drawings by T. Uwins, and etch- 
ings by J. Agar, representing the official costume 
of all the different orders of Officers of the Uni- 
versities. Mr. Ackermann also brought out a Po- 
etical Magazine, which became the parent of a 
race of novel publications of unprecedented no- 
toriety. These were a sort of hybrid twins of po- 
etry and art, in the illustrated, or rhyming, ram- 

147 



LITERARY LONDON, 

bling, ricketty, and ridiculous poems, ''Dr. Syn- 
tax's Tour in Search of the Picturesque/' The work 
not only passed through several editions, of three 
Tours, but extended to three volumes; and within 
the last few years they have been again brought 
before the public at reduced prices by Mr. H. G. 
Bohn. ''Dr. Syntax" was a lucky and large prize 
in the lottery of publication, and was also a novelty 
in origin and writing. Instead of the composition 
and designs for the illustrations growing out of, 
and serving to ornament and give tangible forms, 
figures, colours, ejfifects, &c., to the language and 
imaginings of the poet, or other writer; the artist, 
in the work referred to, preceded the author by 
making a series of drawings; in each of which he 
exhibited his hero in a succession of places, and 
in various associations, calculated to exemplify his 
hobby-horsical search for the picturesque. Some 
of these drawings, by the versatile and ingenious 
artist, Rowlandson, were shown at a dinner-party, 
at John Bannister's, in Gower Street, when it was 
agreed they should be recommended to Acker- 
mann for publication. That gentleman readily pur- 
chased, and handed them by two or three at a 
time to Combe, when the latter was in the King's 
Bench. He fitted them with rhymes, and they 
made their first appearance in the magazine allud- 



THE STRAND, ETC, 

ed to. Exciting much popularity, the publisher re- 
produced them in separate volumes, and found de- 
mand keep pace with his supply. Hence *' Syntax " 
was succeeded by 'The Dance of Life/' 'The 
Dance of Death/' ''J^^hnny Quae Genus/' and 
'Tom Raw the Griffin/' all of the same class and 
character, and ultimately extending to two hun- 
dred and ninety-five prints, with annotatory poet- 
ical letter-press. 

Without adverting further, in this place, to the 
periodical press and publishers, generally, I cannot 
forbear to notice two weekly journals which had 
their birth in this locality, and which have proved 
themselves resolute and powerful advocates of 
moral, political, and literary reforms: viz., 'The 
Examiner," and the "Literary Gazette." The for- 
mer was projected and undertaken by two enthusi- 
astic young men, almost boys, John and Leigh 
Hunt, who thought patriotism and literature were 
the only thing worth living for; and believing 
themselves not only slighted, but oppressed by the 
rulers of the land, thought that it would be glori- 
ous, either to obtain emancipation, or suffer mar- 
tyrdom in the attempt. They paid dearly for their 
rashness and courage, as may be seen fully set 
forth, with honest candour and truthfulness, by 

the latter, in his Auto-Biography, in 3 vols., pub- 

149 



LITERARY LONDON, 

lished in 1850, to which work I can refer the read- 
er, with an assurance that he will find much amus- 
ing as well as eloquent and exciting commentary 
on the popular events and persons of the half- 
century after the year 1800. 

Amongst the literary persons of the present cen- 
tury, that voluminous author ranks in the first class. 
From boyhood (for he was a precocious poet), up 
to the present time (1853), his whole time and 
mental energies appear to have been employed in 
literature; and the amount, variety, and merits of 
his numerous published writings are at once man- 
ifestations of industry, enthusiasm, zeal, an ardent 
love of liberty, and of the better productions of 
genius and talent. His first volume, intituled "Ju- 
venilia,'' was a series of poems written between 
the ages of twelve and sixteen. It appeared in the 
year 1801, when, I believe, he was in "The Blue- 
Coat School," and a contemporary with the two 
brilliant intellectual planets in the hemisphere of 
talent, Coleridge and Lamb. The times when his 
first volume made its public appearance, when its 
author sought the approval of critics and patrons, 
were rife with political excitement and conten- 
tion. Party spirit was violent and rancorous; and 
every person who possessed warm feelings and 
thinking powers became imperceptibly a jacobin, 



THE STRAND, ETC, 

or an anti-jacobin: i. e., a Reformer, or a Tory, 
opposed to all changes. Mr. Leigh Hunt and his 
brother John avowed themselves of the former 
class, and started their "Examiner," as a medium 
to promulgate their sentiments, and oppose both 
the opinions and principles of the other party. 

The consequence was. State prosecutions and 
consequent heavy fines, as well as cruel imprison- 
ment. Unintimidated and unflinching, they con- 
tinued to publish the "Examiner," and also con- 
tinued to occupy its weekly columns with severe 
and caustic writings on the malpractices of min- 
isters, and on the vices and follies of those princes, 
nobles, and commoners, who lived and luxuriated 
on the revenues of the State. 

One department of their paper was devoted to 
the "Fine Arts,'' the criticisms and comments on 
which were mostly written by Robert Hunt, 
brother of the two partners. Related to Benjamin 
West, the President of the Royal Academy, and 
having been educated as an artist, this gentleman 
rendered his critical articles popular and influen- 
tial. He wrote two or three Essays for me, which 
appeared in "The Fine Arts of the English 
School ;'' and also produced others for different 
publications. 

"The Literary Gazette,'^ which made its first ap- 
151 



LITERARY LONDON. 

pearance on the 25th of January, 181 7, has proved 
eminently serviceable in promoting the national 
literature, as well as its fine arts. It was at first 
the property of Mr. Colburn, an active and enter- 
prising publisher, who possessed "The New 
Monthly Magazine,'^ and other works of popu- 
larity, and who eagerly availed himself of every 
channel to attract the notice, and excite the curi- 
osity, of readers. A new medium was found in this 
Gazette, which not merely professed to advocate, 
but to bring forward the better specimens of liter- 
ature, and scout and expose its quackery. It is 
generally admitted that it was almost constantly 
kind, generous, and complimentary to young as- 
pirants for fame — in authorship, art, and the 
drama. I cannot, however, forget, or palliate the 
severity it manifested towards a youthful Poet of 
real genius and equal modesty, who ventured to 
launch a small volume on the ''sea of troubles," 
and which was assailed by the ''Literary Gazette'' 
in unqualified terms of reprobation. The princi- 
pal poem was "Richmond Hill,'' a site calculated 
to arouse the most intense admiration in every 
lover of the fine and beautiful scenery of nature. 
In his verses on this fascinating prospect, I may 
safely assert that Charles Ellis evinced ardent feel- 
ings as well as genuine sympathies for the beauties 

152 



THE STRAND, ETC. 

of the scene, and also genuine, if not the highest, 
poetical powers to depict them. 

The new periodical ultimately proved a large prize 
in the lottery of book-speculation, as it progres- 
sively rose high in the thermometer of fashion and 
fame. Its progress and fluctuating annals would 
afford abundance of interest to the general reader, 
were they fully and faithfully narrated. Mr. Wil- 
liam Jerdan, who tells us in his Auto-Biography 
that he was its ^'sole editor and part-proprietor, from 
its commencement to August 14, 1841," has nar- 
rated many particulars of its contents, contribu- 
tors, proprietors, and changes. To that work 
I must refer my reader, as well as for an account 
of the Hterary career and worldly vicissitudes of an 
old friend, with whom I have continued in occa- 
sional correspondence and personal intercourse 
for nearly forty years: I cannot, however, help 
deeply regretting to read his account of the profes- 
sion of authorship; it being so much at variance 
with my own experience and opinions. These I 
have partly explained in the *The Rights of Liter- 
ature,'' in "The Authorship of the Letters of Junius 
Elucidated,'' and in other parts of my numerous 
publications. On referring to past volumes of the 
''Literary Gazette,'' I always find them replete with 
valuable and interesting information on the con- 

153 



LITERARY LONDON, 

temporary literature, the fine arts, science, and 
the drama; also on the manners and customs of 
the constantly changing times from 1817 to 1850. 
The recent numbers of this weekly periodical show 
it to be conducted by an editor of science, can- 
dour, and literary talents. 

The Strand has long been known as the place 
of congress of certain learned and eminent nation- 
al societies, whose ''Transactions" have travelled 
to, and been located and studied in, all the civilized 
cities of the globe. Those of the Royal, the An- 
tiquaries, and the Astronomical, have free quar- 
ters within the government edifice of Somerset 
House ; whilst the Society of Arts, in a noble man- 
sion of its own, has taken root and prospered, in 
John Street, close to the Strand. The history of 
each and all of these societies is replete with in- 
teresting matter, not merely for the archaeologist 
and scientific, but for the historian of man, in de- 
veloping the progress of his intellectual qualifica- 
tions. Mr. Weld has given to the public a well- 
digested history of that of the Royal, and it is 
hoped that other authors will shortly produce sim- 
ilar publications on their respective societies. 

No. 32 in the Strand was a large print-shop, be- 
longing to Mr. Richardson, whose extensive col- 
lection was noted for portraits, topographical and 

154 



THE STRAND, ETC. 



antiquarian prints, and for public sales of that class 
of property. In February and March, 1800, he 
sold an amazing collection of British portraits, 
which continued for thirty-one days, and which 
appears to have been accumulating for forty years. 
He was also employed on many other similar oc- 
casions to dispose of graphic works. During the 
winter he frequently had sales in the evening, 
which I often attended, and as often puchased 
"lots.'^ Here I met several gentlemen, with whom 
I became intimate, from congeniality of attach- 
ments. Amongst these were Mr. Alexander, of 
the British Museum, Mr. Baker, of St. Paul's 
Churchyard, Mr. R. Holford, Mr. Bentham, Mr. 
Bindley, Dr. Gossett, Mr. Molteno, and several 
others, w^hose hoards have since been again 
brought to the hammer, and distributed to amuse 
other illustrators. Richardson pubHshed several 
portraits, fac-similes of scarce prints, and also three 
different-sized prints of the 'Telton Shakspeare," 
as it is usually named. At his rooms were sold 
by auction the famed collections of Musgrave and 
of Tighe. 

In the Strand were the shops of Mr. Faden, Mr. 
Cary, and Mr. Smith, who entirely devoted them- 
selves to Geography, by publishing Maps, Charts, 
Globes, &c. I often visited them to obtain and 



LITERARY LONDON, 

communicate information. The most important 
topographical surveys were pubHshed by Mr. Fa- 
den, but they were too expensive for my pocket. 
This gentleman has been succeeded by James 
Wyld, Esq., M. P., who has brought into the busi- 
ness more energy and enterprise than his prede- 
cessor, and has consequently produced great 
changes and improvements in his published works. 
As a feature of the times in which we live, we find 
that Mr. Wyld is a member of the Legislature, and 
a bold competitor with the daring and unparalleled 
Crystal Palace of 1851, by designing and con- 
structing a building, with an exhibition to display 
the geographical surface of the terrestrial Globe. 
The invention and the execution are honourable 
to his name and country; and it is hoped that it 
will reward his enterprise. 

I always travelled with the best small map I 
could obtain, and marked in such alterations and 
corrections as I met with. These were handed 
over to the publishers, and consequently inserted 
in new impressions of their respective plates. The 
Trigonometrical and the Ordnance Surveys were 
not published when I walked round Wales, into 
Cornwall, and through some other districts. These 
truly important national works are now produced, 
and, being sold at very low prices, are of incalcu- 

156 



THE STRAND, ETC, 

lable value to modern antiquaries and topogra- 
phers. 

Near the western end of the Strand, on* the 
North side, was the house of a Mr. Baxter, having 
in the rear a large Room, which he let out for pri- 
vate theatricals, for debates, and for readings and 
music. His wife possessed a fine soprano voice, 
played well on the piano-forte, and occasionally 
performed on the stage. At this place I became 
acquainted with George Saville Carey, who pub- 
lished a small volume called ''Balnea, or Sketches 
of Watering-places,'^ I799> which, I believe, was 
the first work that gave a general account of those 
famed places of fashionable resort; and it 
would be interesting to show the extent, 
population, &c., of Bath, Brighton, Leam- 
ington, Margate, and Buxton, as they were 
when that volume was published, and as 
they now are. Carey wrote a volume on "Mim- 
icry," and was famed for his Imitations of Garrick, 
Henderson, Kemble, Mrs. Siddons, and others. 
I have a vivid recollection of the mellow, flexible 
voice, and expressive intonations of Garrick, as 
well as the dull, phlegmatic, monotonous tones of 
Kemble, as Carey displayed them: one was melli- 
fluous to the ear, the other grating and discordant, 
though not quite so bad as Coleman describes it 



LITERARY LONDON, 

in his famed Preface to 'The Iron Chest'' — ''a 
crow in a quinsey/' Carey contended that his 
father wrote ''God Save the King;" but his state- 
ment is confuted by the Rev. Richard Clark, of 
Westminster Abbey, who asserts, and has pro- 
duced authority to show, that it was composed by 
Dr. John Bull, who wrote it for, and that it was 
performed at, a public concert at Merchant Tail- 
ors' School, London, on the i6th of July, 1607. In 
Mr. Baxter's room, I occasionally appeared in the 
reading-desk, and also as one of the speakers, 
or rather talkers, on some debated question; and 
I well remember that Mr. Gale Jones, who was the 
founder and manager of the society, praised me 
for the matter and manner of my remarks on the 
subject of the "Slave Trade," then much discussed 
both in Parliament and in public. I had read a 
good deal about it, and consequently was ardent- 
ly prejudiced in the cause. Sermons, Essays, Po- 
etry, History, Debate, were variously and 
numerously employed to rouse the passions 
and judgment of the pnbHc against the 
barbarous and horrible traffic. The letters 
of Sterne and of Ignatius Sancho were fa- 
miliar to me, and warmed my enthusiasm. The 
history, amiable character, and literary tact of the 

latter excited my warmest sympathy, and prepos- 

158 



THE STRAND, ETC, 

sessed me in behalf of black skin and the ever- 
curled hair. I longed to know and love such a 
man as Sancho. Experience is the only correc- 
tion of prejudice. In 1815, I was introduced, at a 
Freemasons' Lodge, to Prince Sanders, a com- 
plete negro, who was said to be an agent from 
Christophe, King of Hayti, and who had obtained 
access to, and the patronage of the Duke of Sus- 
sex, W. Wilberforce, and other persons of note. 
This was a passport even to Freemasons and to 
fashionable society. The 'Trince" became popu- 
lar, was lionized in the metropolis, lived in a gay 
style, told artists and authors that he was com- 
missioned by ''his royal master'' to engage several 
of both classes to emigrate and settle in Hayti, 
where the King would confer fortune and fame on 
them. Some were tempted to send specimens of 
their respective works; and I became one of Mr. 
"Prince" Sanders's dupes, by confiding to his 
friendly charge fine-paper copies of three vol- 
umes, valued at £25. Of these I never heard more; 
but found that my new friend, in whom I had no 
suspicion of roguery, continued to visit and be vis- 
ited by several distinguished persons, from the 
West End of London. He resided in the vicinity 
of Tavistock Square, and one night assembled, at 
a Soiree, a large party of nobles, gentry, and la- 

159 



LITERARY LONDON, 

dies, amongst whom were the Duke of Sussex, Mr. 
Wilberforce, and other personages of rank. Be- 
fore he quitted London, he pubHshed an octavo 
volume, with his portrait engraved by Charles 
Turner. Its title is: ''By Authority. Haytian 
Papers: A Collection of the very Interesting 
Proclamations, and other Official Documents; to- 
gether with some Account of the Rise, Progress, 
and Present State of the Kingdom of Hayti. With 
a Preface by Prince Sanders, Esq., Agent for the 
Haytian Government. London: printed for W. 
Reed, 17, Fleet Street.'^ 8vo. 1816. This volume is 
a curiosity. I never heard what became of its 
editor, after he left London; but I learnt that sev- 
eral other persons, as well as myself, had been im- 
posed on by him. 

Connected with the Strand are reminiscences of 
the Lyceum Theatre, with my public appearance 
on its stage, and in the stage-box; of Robert Ker 
Porter's exhibition of Seringapatam and other 
pictures ; of the wonderful mimicry, ventriloquism, 
and transformations of Monsieur Alexandre, the 
rival of Mathews; of PhilHpstalPs Phantasmago- 
ria; and also of the ''Sans Pareil Theatre," as it 
was called in 1806, when Mr. Scott, a colour-mak- 
er, built and fitted it up for his daughter, who 

made her first public appearance there, and gained 

160 



THE STRAND, ETC. 

much applause for songs and recitations. This 
lady's performances, united with mechanical and 
optical illusions, gave character to the house, and 
made the fortune of its proprietor. 'Tom and 
Jerry,'' by Pierce Egan, afterwards attracted im- 
mense crowds, when the name of ''Little Adelphi;*^ 
was given to the theatre. In 1825 Terry and Yates 
became lessees, but lost money. Charles Mathews 
joined the latter, and continued to give his popu- 
lar and profitable ''At Home" here for three suc- 
cessive years. It was at this house I first became 
acquainted with that extraordinary actor, mimic, 
and man, and continuedi to meet him frequently 
afterwards. He was born in 1776, at No. 18 in the 
Strand, and died in 1835, after a long career of 
theatrical adventure, vicissitude, and fame. Among 
the numerous volumes of biography and auto-bi- 
ography of the heroes and heroines of the sock and 
buskin, there is not one surpassing in variety, wit, 
and amusement, that of the eccentric and much- 
admired Charles Mathews. It is written jointly 
by the player and his widow, and extends to four 
volumes. A few pages only of the first are by the 
pen of the former, and the remainder is admirably 
executed by the latter. 

At No. 145, Strand, were the book-shop and 

auction-rooms of Messrs. Leigh and Sotheby, at 

161 



LITERARY LONDON, 

the beginning of the present century, in whicii 
many choice and costly books were transferred 
from one collector to another. Mr. Leigh was es- 
tablished as an auctioneer in King Street, Covent 
Garden, in 1744; and from that time to the present 
the Catalogues, with prices and purchasers' names, 
are preserved by the present respectable firm in 
Wellington Street. 

After the de(\ease of the first gentleman, the sec- 
ond continued the business for some years in the 
same street, and disposed of many celebrated li- 
braries. He has been succeeded by his worthy 
Son, who inherits many of the good points of his 
much-respected parent, and equally respected part- 
ner, retaining the names of both. Since the re- 
tirement of Mr. Evans, of Pall Mall, Mr. Samuel 
Leigh Sotheby has been most extensively oc- 
cupied in selling distinguished libraries, and, I 
believe, with credit to himself and advantage to his 
employers. On comparing one of his recent cata- 
logues, for Samuel Prout, with another printed for 
his godfather and father, in 1806, of nine days' sale 
of the library of one of my earliest literary friends, 
the Rev. Jonathan Boucher, the contrast is 
remarkable. The last exhibits bad type, 
bad ink, bad paper, and heedless editor- 
ship; whilst the former is the reverse in all 

162 



THE STRAND, ETC, 

these qualities: yet the Boucher Catalogue 
is charged 3s. 6d., and that of Proufs Col- 
lection was given away. Mr. Sotheby's partner 
(John Wilkinson) conducts the seUing department 
with as much zeal and promptitude as the former 
manifests in arrangement, cataloguing, and in 
other parts of the business. Their rooms are now 
in Wellington Street. 

In alluding to the Auction-rooms of the western 
part of London, it would seem negligent or invidi- 
ous were I to omit two which have been justly emi- 
nent in credit and respectability for many years 
in the early part of the present century: those of 
Robert H. Evans, No. 93, Pall Mall, and James 
Christie, first in Pall Mall, and afterwards in King 
Street, St. James's. Brief notices of the numer- 
ous and various sales of books, MSS. and prints 
which have been distributed over the world by the 
first auctioneer, would extend to a large volume, 
and might be made particularly interesting to the 
lovers of literature. It would embrace accounts 
of a vast variety of valuable and important books, 
whose histories involve not merely their own in- 
trinsic merits and peculiarities, but the fluctua- 
tions of prices and caprices of purchasers. Some 
have been highly prized and hoarded for their 
scarcity, (a lamentable criterion, as many of these 

163 



LITERARY LONDON, 

^'extremely rare" articles are worthless); others 
for being a trifle larger in the margin than another 
copy which has been pronounced the tallest; whilst 
a third quality is the possession of some cancelled 
leaf or print, which was originally deemed useless, 
or objectionable. I have often seen the large sale- 
room crowded by real lovers of literature, by col- 
lectors, by bibliographers, and by bibliomaniacs, 
and witnessed the enormous prices given for 
books, both of intrinsic beauty and merit, and of 
capricious worth. The Roxburgh, the Sykes, the 
Spencer, the Hibbert, the Dent, the Hoare, and 
the Broadley libraries were noted for their extent, 
value, scarcity, and for other peculiarities: some 
of these have been sold and resold by auction since 
their first appearance in a sale-room. Dibdin's 
''Library Companion,'^ his ''Bibliomania," and his 
"Reminiscences,'' contain much curious informa- 
tion on the subjects here referred to: and I must 
not omit to notice my respected friend Mr. 
Clarke's "Repertorium Bibliographicum,'' a large 
royal octavo volume of 1819, which contains much 
valuable and curious information on celebrated 
British libraries, and their choicest book-treas- 
ures. 

Mr. Christie's Sale-rooms, in Pall Mall and in 

King Street, have been noted for more than half 

164 



THE STRAND, ETC, 

a century, as well for the high respectability and 
qualifications of the auctioneers, as for the vast 
amount and nature of the property they have ex- 
hibited. I have known three generations of the 
family, and had reason to esteem each and all. 
Though I saw but little of the first, who was 
famed for his bland and engaging manners and 
voice, as well as for his florid, spontaneous ad- 
dresses, or panegyrics, yet I never see the ex- 
quisite portrait of him, in the counting-house of 
King Street, without emotions of admiration of 
the artist, and the auctioneer. On referring to a 
catalogue of "a most capital and precious assem- 
blage of pictures" by Mr. Christie, Sen., whose 
''Great Room" was in Pall Mall, June 13th, 1807, 
I see a flourishing, and rather a Robins-like ac^ 
count of a small collection of only 44 pictures, 
each of which is highly eulogised. One of them, 
by Rembrandt, is described as ''the finest picture, 
without exception, ever painted by that master." 
The Catalogue is marked 2s. 6d. George H. 
Christie succeeded his parent m 1831, in the same 
premises, and in the same career of high character, 
and in costly sales of works of art and vertu. In 
the same year Peter Coxe, author of "The Social 
Day,'' a poem, sold a small gallery of "original 
paintings, the property of Mr. Andrew Wilson," 

i6s 



LITERARY LONDON, 

the Catalogue of which, marked 2s. 6d., contains 
a highly coloured advertisement, with comments 
on each ^'painting," also praised. He was brother 
of Archdeacon Coxe, and a popular auctioneer for 
some years. Amongst other sales was one of the 
Bowood collection of pictures, out of which I pur- 
chased three, by Sir Joshua Reynolds, Romney, 
and Wright, of Derby. The first and second were 
transferred to the Marquis of Stafford, and the 
third, half-length of the Marquis of Granby, to a 
gentleman of Devonshire. 

With the late James Christie I was familiarly 
acquainted, in his public and private characteris- 
tics; and though I occasionally lamented to see 
him in his auction-rostrum, surrounded by un- 
shaven and rude brokers, and sometimes subject- 
ed to the cant language of such ^^gents,'^ I also 
saw him in the company of nobles of the land, 
and commoners of equally noble character. With 
the latter, my amiable friend seemed *'at home,'' 
and addressed them in language and manners 
which could not fail to propitiate their confidence 
and respect. More than once I have attended his 
sales, for the purpose of seeing certain fine pic- 
tures, and also to bid for some on account of 
friends. The celebrated series of Hogarth's "Elec- 
tion" I bought for Sir John Soane, at what was 

i66 



THE STRAND, ETC. 



thought to be a large sum. The lot excited com- 
petition, and the auctioneer made occasional 
pauses and a few opposite and judicious remarks 
between the biddings. On knocking it down, he 
pronounced as neat and pointed an address to the 
successful candidate as ever was heard at any- 
electioneering contest in the united kingdom. Mr. 
Christie, Sen., died in 1805; and James Christie, 
his Son, in 1831, aged 57. 

In King Street, Covent Garden, were the Auc- 
tion-rooms of King and Lochee, chiefly devoted to 
books, in which I was Erst tempted to compete 
for a few topographical articles in 1800. It was 
the library of Philip Luckombe, who had pub- 
lished a small "History of Printing,^' in 1771; "A 
Tour in Ireland, 1783;'' and "England's Gazet- 
teer,'' in 1790, in 3 volumes, i2mo.; also some 
other works; whence it appears that he had been 
connected with the press. His library, though 
small, contained Camden's Britannia, interleaved 
and illustrated; his own "Gazetteer,'' interleaved, 
with MS. Notes; also other topographical books. 
There being but little competition, I laid out about 
£20, and carried away a hackney coach load of lit- 
erary materials for future reference and applica- 
tion. 

At the same rooms, the Rev. Dr. Richard Far- 
167 



LITERARY LONDON, 

mer's large library had been sold in 1798; extend- 
ing over thirty-six days. 

My (Britton) earliest aspirations, after engaging 
to write on Topography, were to cultivate the ac- 
quaintance of those persons, who either sold or 
collected books, prints, or other articles in that 
class of literature ; and that I progressively and ul- 
timately became familiar with most of the bibliopo- 
lists, print-sellers, and auction-rooms in the me- 
tropolis. My limited funds, however, precluded 
me from purchasing to a great extent; but I may 
safely aver that, from the year 1800 to 1850, there 
was not one Olympic cycle passed without an in- 
crease of my library, in books, prints, and draw- 
ings. As already remarked, my fit of Bibliomania 
w as first caught at the sale of the library of Philip 
Luckombe, when I obtained the "Britannia," with 
printed, manuscript, and graphic accompaniments. 

Thenceforward the disease increased in strength, 
and I continued to frequent nearly all the book 
sales of London, in which topography and antiqui- 
ties constituted any distinguished portion. On 
these occasions, I not only became acquainted with 
eminent collectors, but also obtained some knowl- 
edge of the relative merits and value of books. 
Unlike many of my associates at these competing 

marts, I never sought to possess works which 

168 



THE STRAND, ETC, 

were valued and purchased merely from rarity, 
or dimensions of margin. Fine paper and good 
prints I coveted, and sometimes bought. Under 
these influences, and of warm temperament, it is 
not surprising that my own collection increased to 
an unwieldly and inconvenient extent. My rooms, 
boxes, closets, &c., were crowded, whilst the purse 
collapsed, and I deemed it prudent to commission 
Mr. Southgate to sell some of the books at his 
rooms. In June, 1832, I sent enough to make up 
six days' sale; and subsequently, at different 
times, have sold a sufficient number to occupy ten 
more days. Every sale, however, furnished cause 
of mortification and sorrow; for books, drawings, 
prints, and objects of vertu, were sold at very low 
prices. 

The following Address was written and printed 
by Mr. Britton in June, 1832, to accompany Cata- 
logues sent to particular persons; and is reprinted, 
in this place, as expressive of the feelings and opin- 
ions he then experienced and entertained on such 
a subject. 

BOOKS: READING, STUDY. 

A man who has been actively engaged for forty 
years in collecting, and in using Books, — who 

during that space of time has been economical in 

169 



LITERARY LONDON. 

all his other expences for the purpose of indulging 
this "hobby/^ and who has also been much occu- 
pied in the pleasure of writing, and penalties of 
publishing, will be likely to find the said hobby 
grow rather too large for his stable, and demand 
more than common care and labour in "looking 
after/^ Though thus overgrown and incommo- 
dious, I can truly re-echo the sentiment of Cum- 
berland, who in his "Memoirs'^ asserts, that his 
"books and pen have been his never-failing com- 
forters and friends/^ 

From these, and all other earthly ties, a time of 
parting must arrive; and Books will have failed in 
one of their important duties, or qualities, if they 
have not inculcated the lesson of submitting to in- 
evitable events, without unavailing murmur. Phil- 
osophy has many pretty maxims, but it has not 
one among the number to render sensibility insen- 
sible. It certainly teaches us "to bear the ills we 
have," and guard against, or ward of? others, 
which may assail us. Dr. Kitchener instructed 
"every man to make his own Will" — and he might 
have taught him, also, to be his own Executor. 
This would tend to shorten lawyers' bills, and 
lengthen legacies; would benefit widows and or- 
phans, and abridge posthumous taxation. If there 
were no other reasons for a man's looking beyond 



THE STRAND, ETC. 

the grave, than a desire of saving litigation, and 
mulcts to the tax office, these were sufficient; but 
how often and how effectually can lie apply his 
superfluous property — if he has any — towards the 
end of his life, if he has resolution and good feel- 
ings, to bequeath it to deserving relatives and 
friends. 

Let us hear what Petrarch said of Books, about 
five hundred years ago, when there were neither 
Magazines nor Reviews, and when printing and 
engraving were alike unknown, and let us en- 
deavour to appreciate and profit by his just and 
philosophical remarks. 

"Some people consider the pleasures of the 
world as their supreme good, and not to be re- 
nounced. But I have friends of a very different 
description (my Books), whose society is far more 
agreeable to me: they are of all countries, and of 
all ages; they are distinguished in war, in politics, 
and in the sciences. It is very easy to see them; 
they are always at my service. I call for their com- 
pany, or send them away, whenever I please : they 
are never troublesome, and immediately answer 
all my questions. Some relate the events of ages 
past, others reveal the secrets of nature; these 
teach me how to live in comfort, those how to die 

in quiet. In return for all these services, they only 

171 



LITERARY LONDON, 

require a chamber of me in one corner of my man- 
sion, where they may repose in peace/' 

If, however, instead of one corner of his man- 
sion, Petrarch had found every room and every 
closet of his house filled with these dear friends, 
he might have experienced some inconvenience 
from their company, and been induced, like my- 
self and many others, to turn some of them out of 
doors, for the purpose of seeing and enjoying the 
selected few. 

A short account of the rise and progress of the 
Library, of which a part is now to be disposed of, 
will *'point a moral," if not "adorn a tale.'' In boy- 
hood I attended the sale of a country 'squire's fur- 
niture, &c., and bought a lot of nine books for is. 
One of them was ''Robinson Crusoe," which I read 
with avidity, and longed to be cast on a desert 
island, with a ''Man Friday." This library trav- 
elled with me to London, and occupied — with 
Bailey's Dictionary, a few magazines, some ana- 
tomical and medical books, &c. — a small deal 
box, during six years of miserable apprenticeship, 
the greater part of which was spent in a murky, 
damp, and dirty cellar. Sanguine in hopes, and 
ardently looking forward to emancipation from a 
sad state of legal slavery, my health gave way, and 
I became weak, emaciated, and desponding. But 



THE STRAND, ETC, 

for the 'little knowledge" obtained even from my 
small library, I should have sunk into an early 
grave; from books I acquired some knowledge of 
my own constitution, frame of body, and the latent 
disease which exhibited evident symptoms of con- 
sumption. Thus, I attribute prolongation of life 
to reading. At the end of apprenticeship my boy- 
library contained twenty-five volumes, and my 
purse five guineas. For the ensuing ten years 
my stock increased but very slowly; a small nest of 
shelves held the whole. Commencing with Mr. 
Brayley the ''Beauties of England," in 1800, it be- 
came necessary to have nearly every printed book 
relating to the counties described; but as these 
were expensive, they were retained only as loiig as 
wanted, and then sold to purchase others. This 
class of reading and writing excited a desire to 
possess a library, and every new year not only in- 
creased the desire, but also augmented the collec- 
tion. 

In Tavistock Place it occupied three sides of a 
small room nine feet square, and I then thought 
myself truly rich and happy. Infected with the 
"Bibliomania," which raged for some time in Lon- 
don, I was impelled to attend the sale rooms of 
King and Lochee — Richardson — Leigh and Soth- 
eby — Evans, and other famed "contagionists'' — 

173 



LITERARY LONDON, 

where I continued to purchase, as if ''increase of 
appetite grew with what it fed on/' Many "curi- 
ous, choice, and rare articles" have thus come into 
my possession, which I have seen pass through the 
hands of three or four ''famous'' collectors. Here 
the retrospect is painful, and melancholy; for it 
brings before imagination the Names, Tales, and 
varied Characters of the indefatigable and zealous 
Strutt — the eccentric and enthusiastic Carter — the 
magnificent Lansdowne — ^the amiable and learned 
Boucher — the plodding and laborious Reed — the 
talented but splenetic Steevens and Ritson — the 
universally esteemed Alexander — ^the ostentatious 
Dent — the historical Coxe, cum multis aliis. 




174 



